Japanese Temples: Tokoji Temple
Tokoji History | Tokoji
Temple Access
Tokoji 東光寺
The Mori Clan were once powerful lords who controlled much of the western
end of Honshu, but following their defeat along with the followers of
the Toyotomi clan by Tokugawa Ieyasu in the Battle
of Sekigahara in 1600 they were stripped of much of their land and
moved from Hiroshima
to Hagi
in what is now Yamaguchi Prefecture where they constructed their new
castle town.
For a family temple to bury their dead and conduct funerary rights
the family first chose to rebuild a derelict temple now named Daishoin,
and here the first and second lords and their wives were entombed.
History of Tokoji
For the third Lord a new temple was constructed at the other end of
the town in 1691, Tokoji, and here were buried the third, fifth,
seventh, ninth and eleventh lords and their consorts. The fourth, sixth,
eighth, tenth and twelfth are buried at Daishoin.
Tokoji belongs to the Obaku sect of Zen Buddhism, a newer style of
Zen that was introduced into Japan in the mid 17th century. The architecture
of Obaku temples, including Tokoji, reflect a stronger Chinese influence
than usual Zen temples.
The temple is now much smaller than in its heyday, but many of the
remaining structures date from the 17th century. The outer gate, Somon,
the bell tower, Shoro, and the main hall, Daihoden, all date from the
founding of the temple and are listed as Important Cultural Properties,
as is the main gate, Sanmon, though it was built much later.
The main attraction for visitors though is the large graveyard of the
lords located in the woods behind the temple. Somber and quiet, each
of the tombs are fronted by stone torii and lines of hundreds
of moss-covered stone lanterns donated by the vassals of the clan. On
the path to the lords' graves you pass by tombs of some of the Meiji
Restoration leaders who hailed from Hagi including Sufu Masanosuke.
View from the entrance gate at Tokoji Temple in
Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Stone lanterns at Tokoji Temple in Hagi, Yamaguchi
Prefecture
One other thing of interest to look out for are the Onigawara, literally
"demon roof tiles" which function as gargoyles. Miniature copies are available
for sale at the temple's shop.
Onigawa "Demon Roof Tiles" at Tokoji
Temple in Hagi, Yamaguchi
Tokoji Access
Tokoji Temple is a short walk to the east of the Shoin Shrine to the
east of Higashi-Hagi Station.
Open 8.30am to 5pm, entrance 300 yen.
Tel: 0838 26 1052
1647 Chinto, Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture 758-0011
Google map of Tokoji Temple
The Somon Outer Gate at Tokoji Temple in Hagi,
Yamaguchi Prefecture
Text & images by Jake Davies
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