Saturday, July 27, 2024

Toko-ji Temple

After visiting Zenko-ji, I walked about ten minutes to arrive at Toko-ji Temple.


This is the information from the temple's website: 

A temple with a beautiful Japanese rock garden

One of the "Kofu Gozan" ("five mountains of Kofu"), a hierarchical system following the one used to organize Buddhist temples in Kyoto and Kamakura, in which Takeda Shingen chose five temples on the slopes of the Kofu basin to be placed under his protection.

Toko-ji was founded around 500 years ago and houses the graves of both Shingen’s eldest son Yoshinobu and Suwa Yorishige (whose daughter gave birth to Shingen’s last son and heir, Katsuyori). After rebelling against his father, Yoshinobu was imprisoned in the temple, where he eventually died by his own blade. Suwa Yorishige was captured and imprisoned there as well following Shingen’s invasion of Suwa, and also committed suicide by seppuku. 

Within the temple’s precincts is a rock garden famously designed by Lanxi Daolong, designated as an prefectural cultural property, that is especially beautiful when the irises are in bloom (May). The temple’s main hall enshrines the "medicine Buddha" Bhaisajyaguru and is considered an important national asset.















These tiny cats and tiny wind chime are so cute!











4 comments:

Queeniepatch said...

Oh, how green everything is. I bet the area is hot and humid.
I agree, the cats and wind chimes are cute. You are so good at finding small details like these.

Leonore Winterer said...

What a beautiful place, so lush and green!

Jeanie said...

This one is really stunning. Gorgeous grounds -- what a find. I loved the cats!

Toki said...

Although it has a sad history, there is also a splendid memorial tower, and I'm sure the souls to the sword are consoled.
Cat are too cute.😸