Gokoku-ji

35°43′18.3″N 139°43′32.3″E / 35.721750°N 139.725639°E / 35.721750; 139.725639CountryJapanArchitectureFounderKeishō-inCompleted1681Websitehttp://www.gokokuji.or.jp/

Gokoku-ji (護国寺) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Tokyo's Bunkyō.

History

This Buddhist temple was established by the fifth shōgun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, who dedicated it to his mother. It is notable for surviving the American air raids during World War II, whereas most other historical sites in Tokyo were turned into rubble.

Notable interments

Like many Buddhist temples in Japan, Gokoku-ji has a cemetery on its premises. Among those interred are the remains of the following people.

• Sanjō Sanetomi (1837–1891), the last Daijō Daijin.
• Yamada Akiyoshi (1844–1892), Minister of Industry (1879–1880), Home Minister (1881–1883) and Minister of Justice (1883–1891) and Lieutenant General in the Imperial Japanese Army, and the founder of Nihon Law School (current Nihon University) and Kokugakuin (current Kokugakuin University).
• Josiah Conder (1852–1920), a British architect and oyatoi gaikokujin.
• Ōkuma Shigenobu (1838–1922), the 8th (1898) and 17th (1914–1916) Prime Minister of Japan.
• Yamagata Aritomo (1838–1922), Field Marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army and the 3rd (1889–1891) and 9th (1898–1900) Prime Minister of Japan.
• Ōkura Kihachirō (1837–1928), an entrepreneur.
• Dan Takuma (1858–1932), a former Director-General of Mitsui (Mitsui Group).
• Seiji Noma (1878–1938), the founder of Kodansha.
• Masuda Takashi (1848–1938), the founder of Mitsui & Co. (Mitsui Bussan) and Chugai-Bukka-Sinpo (current Nihon Keizai Shimbun), and also known as a tea master.
• Ikeda Shigeaki (1867–1950), a politician and former governor of the Bank of Japan.
• Nakamura Tempū (1876–1968), a martial artist and preacher of yoga to Japan.
• Ōyama Masutatsu (1923–1994), a karate master and the founder of Kyokushin kaikan.
• Dan Ikuma (1924–2001), a composer. A grandson of Dan Takuma.
• Hamuro Mitsuko (1853-1873), concubine of Emperor Meiji
• Hashimoto Natsuko (1856-1873), concubine of Emperor Meiji

See also

• For an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture, see the Glossary of Japanese Buddhism.

Notes

References

• Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 251800045; see also Imprimerie Royale de France, OCLC 311322353

External links

Japanese Buddhist architecture

Architectonic elements	hidden roof hisashi irimoya kaerumata: see nakazonae kairō karahafu karesansui kentozuka: see nakazonae komainu katōmado mokoshi moya nakazonae Niō or Kongōrikishi sandō shichidō garan shōrō sōrin tokyō tōrō onigawara
Mon (gates)	karamon nijūmon niōmon rōmon sanmon sōmon torii
Buildings	Chinjusha chōzuya/temizuya -dō main hall (kon-dō, hon-dō, butsuden) kuri kyōzō or kyō-dō shoin
Japanese pagodas	gorintō hōkyōintō hōtō kasatōba sotōba muhōtō tahōtō
Styles	Daibutsuyō Wayō Setchūyō Shoin-zukuri Shin-Wayō Zenshūyō Ōbaku Zen architecture
Others	A-un ken

Schools and objects of worship

Major schools	Jōdo Nichiren Shingon Tendai
Zen schools	Sōtō Ōbaku Rinzai
Nanto rokushū	Jōjitsu Hossō Kusha Kegon Ritsu Sanron
Objects of worship	Amida Nyōrai Benzaiten Dainichi Nyorai Jizō Kannon Marishi-ten Shaka Nyorai Shitennō (Four Kings) Twelve Heavenly Generals (Jūni Shinshō) Yakushi Nyorai

Other elements

Implements	kei (ritual gong) mokugyō
Others	bussokuseki butsudan Glossary of Japanese Buddhism Japanese Buddhist pantheon jingū-ji miyadera saisenbako