Chofuku-ji Temple (Kyoto City) (長福寺 (京都市))
Chofuku-ji Temple, located in Umezu, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, is a temple of the Nanzen-ji school of the Rinzai sect. Its sango (literally, "mountain name"), which is the title prefixed to the name of a Buddhist temple is Daibaizan. Its honzon (principal image of Buddha) is Shaka Nyorai (Buddha Shakamuni).
History
This temple was originally built during the Ninan era (1166-1169) by Nun Shinri from the Umezu clan, then the lord of the area, but later it was moved to its present site. Initially it belonged to the Tendai sect, but when Getsurin Doko entered this temple as a priest in 1339, it was restored as a temple of the Rinzai sect.
This temple had close relationship with Emperors of Jimyoin-to line (the Imperial lineage of Japanese Northern Dynasty) and was designated as the place of Imperial prayer by Emperor Kogon (the first Emperor of Northern Dynasty.)
In the Edo period, it was awarded the Shuinjo (shogunate license to conduct trade) by the Edo bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun).
Cultural Properties
National Treasures
Shihon Chakushoku Hanazono Tenno-zo (a portrait of Emperor Hanazono, colored on paper)
Kurin Seimu Bokuseki: Calligraphy by Kurin Seimu (Gulin Qingmao)
Important Cultural Properties (designated by the national government)
Sekizo Hoto (literally, Stone Treasure Pagoda)
Kenpon Chakushoku Butsu Nehan-zu (a picture of Buddha entering Nirvana, colored on silk cloth)
Konshi Kinji Konkomyo-kyo (Konkomyo-kyo Sutra in gold lettering on dark-blue paper)
Shihon Bokusho Chofuku-ji Engi (Writing of the History of Chofuku-ji Temple, inked on paper)
Getsurin Do Zenji Soan-bun Hanazono Tenno Shinkan (Autograph of Emperor Hanazono on Getsurin Do, Master of Zen Buddhism, who returned from his ascetic practices in Eihei-ji Temple, the head temple of the Soto sect)
Shihon Bokusho Hanazono Tenno Shinkan Nyorai Juryo-bon Ge (Verses praising Buddha's eternal life, hand-inked on paper by Emperor Hanazono)
Shihon Bokusho Hanazono Tenno Shinkan Amida-kyo Zankan (A segment of Amida Sutra, hand-inked on paper by Emperor Hanazono)
Shihon Bokusho Hanazono Tenno Shinkan Daruma-zo Gosan (Compliments to the image of Bodhidharma, hand-inked on paper by Emperor Hanazono)
Shihon Bokusho Hanazono Tenno Shinkan Shosoku (Autograph letter of Emperor Hanazono, inked on paper)
Shihon Bokusho Kogon-in Shinkan Kana Onshosoku (Autograph letter of Kogon-in in kana characters, inked on paper)
Shihon Bokusho Gokogon-in Shinkan Onshosoku (autograph of Gokogon-in, inked on paper) and Fuko-Daido Kokushi Shigo Chokusho (imperial description on the posthumous title of Fuko Daido Kokushi, the most reverend priest)
Jikusenbonsen Bokuseki: Calligraphy by Jikusenbonsen, a naturalized monk from China's Yuan dynasty
Location
Umezu Nakamura-cho 36, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture