Iyama Hōfuku-ji Temple

Overview

Iyama Hōfuku-ji Temple is a Rinzai Buddhist temple of the Tofuku-ji school located in Ijirino, Sōja City, Okayama Prefecture. Its mountain name is Iyama, and its principal image is the Kokuzo Bosatsu. Also known as Hōfuku Zenji, it's famous as the place where Sesshū, the renowned ink painter of the Muromachi period, trained. While the founding date is unknown, it's said to have been established by the Tendai monk, Nitchirin, and was originally a Tendai temple. In 1232 (during the Jōei era), it was converted into a Zen temple by Don'an Keisō, a Zen monk from Mabiki (present-day Mabiki, Sōja City), in Bizen Province. Emperor Shijō, who was ill at the time, is said to have recovered after Don'an prayed for his recovery. A shooting star is said to have fallen before the altar, coinciding with the Emperor's recovery. A well was dug at the spot where the star fell, and it was named "Senjaku-i" (thousand-foot well). This is said to be the origin of the mountain name "Iyama". The temple subsequently flourished as an imperial temple, at one time boasting 55 sub-temples and 300 branch temples. However, during the Bizen War in the Sengoku period, it sided with the local warlord, the Mimura clan, and in 1575 (during the Tenshō era), all but the three-story pagoda was destroyed by fire. The temple fell into ruin until the early Edo period, when it was restored and once again became a full-fledged Zen temple, featuring seven buildings in the Zen style: a mountain gate, Buddhist hall, abbot's quarters, kitchen, meditation hall, bell tower, and sutra repository. The Buddhist hall (main hall) was rebuilt in 1735 (during the Kyōhō era). The temple grounds boast a beautiful garden, renowned for its autumn foliage. It's also the site of the graves of Ryūgo Hashimoto (former Minister of Education and Minister of Health and Welfare) and his son, Ryūtarō (82nd and 83rd Prime Minister of Japan). Sesshū was born in Akahana (present-day Akahana, Sōja City), Bizen Province during the Muromachi period and is said to have spent his childhood at Hōfuku-ji Temple. As a child, Sesshū was skilled in painting but focused more on painting than his training. A Zen master, trying to get him to focus on his training, tied him to a pillar as a form of discipline. That evening, when the master checked on him, he saw a rat trying to escape, but it wouldn't move. It turned out that Sesshū had painted it with tears from his big toe. From that day on, the master no longer scolded him for painting. The floorboard from that incident has since been removed. Iyama Hōfuku-ji Temple is a captivating tourist destination where you can experience history and culture. We highly recommend a visit.