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

sildenafil generic [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian pharmacy with viagra[/url] drug online
medication canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">us pharmacy for cialis</a> viagra from canada pharmacy
    cialis from canada pharmacy Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
viagra online order [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]highest rated canadian pharmacies[/url] online pharmacy without a prescription
viagra uk <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">generic pharmacy</a> my canadian pharcharmy online
    best canadian online pharmacy reviews Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
buying drugs from canada [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian pharmacy.reviews[/url] canadian pharmacy with viagra
cheap cialis online canada pharmacy <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">the canadian pharmacy</a> viagra pills
    canadian pharmacy viagra online Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
online pharmacies without prescription [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]cialis in usa pharmacy[/url] wwwcanadianpharmacy.com
shopping online canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">northwestpharmacy</a> canada pharmacy for viagra
    cialis mexico pharmacy Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
generic viagra canada [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canada pharmacies online viagra[/url] natural substitute for viagra
cheap viagra india <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">pharmaceuticals from canada</a> medications in canada
    cialis online pharmacy Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
canadian drugs online [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian pharmacy-viagra[/url] how does cialis work
price of cialis in canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">online pharmacy medications</a> buy viagra new york
    pharmacy viagra Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
canadian drugs [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian pharmaceutical[/url] canada online pharmacy viagra
canadian pharmacy cialis <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian pharmacy no prescription</a> canadian meds
    online pharmacies in canada Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
pharmacy viagra [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]northwestern pharmacy canada[/url] canadian meds viagra
cheap cialis online canadian pharmacy <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">online canadian pharmacy</a> cialis in canada
    canadian pharmacy meds Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
canada pharmacies online [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]costco pharmacy[/url] viagra buy now
generic viagra cheap <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">viagra india pharmacy</a> cialis online canada pharmacy
    canadian pharcharmy online reviews Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
cialis over the counter canada [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian pharmacy viagra[/url] cheap viagra india
buying drugs from canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">best canadian pharcharmy online</a> canada drug superstore
    buy generic cialis canadian pharmacy Web Site
  • September 4, 2022
viagra best price [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]online pharmacy without a prescription[/url] rx meds
viagra wiki <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">cheap cialis online canada pharmacy</a> approved canadian pharmacies online
    viagra canada pharmacy Web Site
  • September 3, 2022
cialis viagra [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian online pharmacy for viagra[/url] herbal viagra
cheap viagra without prescription <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">us pharmacy cialis</a> drapolene cream
    canadian pharmacies viagra Web Site
  • September 3, 2022
viagra professional [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canada pharmacies online[/url] buy viagra
cheap medications <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canada drug pharmacy</a> cvs pharmacy
    www.canadian pharmacy Web Site
  • September 3, 2022
buy viagra without a prescription [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian pharmacy for viagra[/url] generic viagra in canada
viagra generic brand <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian cialis online pharmacy</a> viagra stories
    cialis canada pharmacy online Web Site
  • September 3, 2022
cialis pills [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]approved canadian pharmacies online[/url] viagra from a pharmacy in canada
canadian pharmacies without prescriptions <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian pharcharmy</a> prescription medication canada
    pharmacy rx one 60 mg cialis Web Site
  • September 3, 2022

Trackback (You need to login.)