Loading

Search

:

Inishie-no-Michi in Kofu

  • Category:Shrine and Temple
n9pnnetd9sydfvjgz77z_320_320-6a37ac21.jpg

JAPAN TRAVEL




Gozan temples between Takeda Shrine and Kai-Zenkoji

The meaning of 'Gozan'  
During the Southern Song Dynasty in China (1127–1279), there was a system of state sponsored temples commonly called the 'Five Mountain' system. 'Five Mountains' really meant five temples (temples were very often located on mountains.) It was the duty of these temples to pray for the protection and safety of the state.

Gozan System in Japan
In the late Kamakura Era (1185–1333) this system was adapted in Japan, notably in Kamakura and Kyoto. The Kamakura Gozan temples are  Kencho-ji, Engaku-ji,  Jufuku-ji,  Jochi-ji and Jomyo-ji, ranked in order of importance.

The Kyoto Gozan temples are Nanzenji, Tenryuji, Shokokuji, Kenninji, Tofukuji, and Manjuji, again in order of importance. These temples were under the patronage - and the control - of the ruling shogunate. 

raidew4nry7b2tk8kwyp_320_320-ee3f81a3.jpg
 
Kofu Gozan temples
In Kofu City, Lord Shingen Takeda, who was a Buddhist priest as well as a powerful Daimyo, chose five Rinzai Temples to be the Kofu Gozan.

These temples were all located at the foot of the mountains to the North of Kofu, between Takeda's fortified residence (now the site of Takeda Shrine) and Kai-Zenkoji. The selected temples were Chozen-ji, Toko-ji, Enko-in, Nojo-ji and Hosen-ji. Of these, Chozen-ji was the highest ranked of these temples, but I can't tell you the ranking of the others.

sdnkaed3sk5iw3a3e4pa_320_320-9c07be1f.jpg
 
Historical walk
There is a walking or cycling trail named Inishie no michi which could perhaps be translated as 'Path of Antiquity' or 'Way of the Ancients'.

The trail starts from Kofu JR Station, and includes Takeda Shrine, all five Gozan Temples, and Takeda Shingen's grave (although his cremated remains are actually at Erin-ji in Koshu City.) There are small maps outside all the points of interest along the way to help keep pilgrims and explorers on track.

Tragedy for Kofu City
Sadly two of these temples, Chozen-ji and Nojo-ji, were burned to the ground in the 1945 air raid that killed 740 civilians and destroyed 80% of Kofu City.  They were were rebuilt in the 1950s, but nothing could be done to restore the lost treasures they contained.

cucyr3fe5mxheju8e9su_320_320-851109a6.jpg

whj3vy5c2bxn74umimfp_320_320-d5f277b8.jpg

 
My personal favorites
Unfortunately I am hopeless at following maps, and I never made it to Hosen-ji. I'll try to go there next time I visit Kofu. Out of the remaining four temples, I was most impressed with Toko-ji. I especially liked the dry garden there with the beautiful standing rocks. I also loved the open-sided 'room' with its scroll and flower arrangement, where visitors can rest and admire the garden. My second favorite was Chozen-ji, because I loved the view of two pagodas, one behind the other.

rv8n4iownxf2s5so2dxp_320_320-237ea27c.jpg

3gv7fwyra64wrbimz99o_320_320-9cf4d8fa.jpg

4oeiosy3y9y545g6mjo7_320_320-1bb41cd4.jpg

 
How about you?
If you have visited any of these temples, please share your thoughts about them!



By Cathy Cawood
 

Comment(s) Write comment

xonieh6prfa canadian pharmacy cialis generic <a href="https://marvelcomics.faith/wiki/Just_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy">indian pharma</a> cialis - canada [url=https://blajdi.com/user/dealtime4/]ordering viagra online[/url] purchase viagra professional
best canadian pharmacies shipping to usa <a href="https://spamdb.science/wiki/How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy">best generic viagra</a> cheap cialis online canadian pharmacy [url=https://postheaven.net/dancerblue0/exactly-how-to-buy-prescription-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy]when will viagra go generic[/url] drugstore of canada
order medications online <a href="https://bandit250.ru/user/springtime3/">canadian viagra online pharmacy reviews</a> lowest cost cialis [url=http://qooh.me/backgold5]viagra prescription[/url] cialis.canada
    rv0hc9hix6s Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
brand name viagra [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]viagra online canadian pharmacy[/url] viagra forum
viagra best price <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">best canadian pharcharmy online</a> pharmacy rx one
    canadian pharmacy without a prescription Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
buy brand viagra [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian pharmacy reviews[/url] best online pharmacies
pharmacy rx one <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">viagra online pharmacy</a> canadian cialis online pharmacy
    pharmacy rx one 60 mg cialis Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
tadalafil pronounce <a href="https://eecilise.com/ ">brand cialis usa</a> where to buy cialis online
toqefg6gpft buy viagra new york <a href="http://cutemicrophone.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=83579">canada for viagra</a> walmart viagra price [url=https://flipboard.com/@puppypunch6]cialis brand[/url] canadian pharmacy and cialis
viagra 50 mg <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/blackdoll1/">metoprolol</a> viagra canadian [url=https://wikidot.win/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know]cost of cialis[/url] cheap viagra without prescription
canadian pharmacy for viagra <a href="https://dppet.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=508647">canada drug pharmacy</a> buy viagra online without a prescription [url=http://pubglife.ru/user/puppyjaguar3/]cheap viagra canadian[/url] cialis at canadian pharmacy
    bed5ck6p1nh Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
canadian generic viagra [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]the canadian pharmacy[/url] cialis from canada?
purchase cialis from canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">wwwcanadianpharmacy.com</a> canadian overnight pharmacy
    cialis canadian pharmacies Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
order cialis from canada [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]onlinepharmaciescanada.com[/url] free viagra pills
candida viagra <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">my canadian pharmacies</a> online drugstore
    india pharmacy viagra Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
free viagra samples [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian pharmacy reviews[/url] buy canadian drugs without prescription
taking viagra <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">usa pharmacy online</a> cheap viagra without prescription
    canadian-pharcharmy- Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
online pharmacy viagra australia <a href="https://sendiviagr.com/ ">cost of sildenafil 20 mg</a> female viagra generic
best canadian pharcharmy online [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]list of canada online pharmacies[/url] generic viagra 100mg
discount cialis <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">cialis canadian pharmacies</a> viagra cost
    best online canadian pharmacies Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
canadian pharmacy.reviews [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian pharmacy.com[/url] cialis pharmacy rx one
calais pills from canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">legitimate online pharmacies india</a> generic viagra from india
    northwestpharmacy.com scam Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
viagra online purchase [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]viagra from canada pharmacy[/url] viagra pills for sale
viagra mexico <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">cialis from usa pharmacy</a> order cialis in canada
    cialis in canadian pharmacies Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
overseas pharmacy [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]online pharmacies without prescription[/url] canadian-pharcharmy
viagra canada pharmacy <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian pharmacies shipping to usa</a> viagra at canadian pharmacy
    cialis and pharmacy Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
viagra uk paypal <a href="https://sendiviagr.com/ ">how to buy viagra in canada</a> viagra for sale online canada
canadian pharmacy - viagra [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]viagra online pharmacy[/url] order cialis online canada
alternative viagra <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian discount pharmacies</a> viagra jelly
    canadian pharmaceuticals Web Site
  • September 4, 2022

Trackback (You need to login.)