“Did you hear about the temple where a celestial dog extinguished a fire?” That’s the story they tell about Jofukuji Temple. This temple stands in Kyoto’s Kamigyo district. It is known locally as Akamon-寺 due to its red east gate.
Jofukuji Temple is a Jodo sect temple. Its mountain name is Katsushouzuan. It is also called Murakumo-寺.
The temple’s history stretches back to the Heian period. The priest Keikai founded it between 782 and 802. At that time, it was a Tendai sect temple. It was also counted as one of Kyoto’s twenty-five major temples.
Over the years, fire repeatedly damaged Jofukuji Temple. In 1276, Emperor Go-Uda ordered its reconstruction. It was rebuilt in Murakumo. Later in 1525, Emperor Go-Kashiwabara granted it the name Nyorai Sanmei-do. It then also became a Jodo sect temple. Eventually, it came under the administration of Chion-in Temple.
The temple moved to its current location in 1615. The main hall was rebuilt in 1733.
Inside the main hall sits an Amida Nyorai statue. It is the temple’s principal image. The Shariden hall houses a Buddha believed to have come from India.
Jofukuji Temple holds several important cultural properties. These include a painting of twenty-five bodhisattvas welcoming Amida Buddha. There are also ten images of the Kings of Hell painted by Tosa Mitsunobu.
The temple grounds contain a graveyard. Within it lie the graves of Emperor Koko’s daughter. Many famous nobles and court officials also rest here.
Jofukuji Temple faced a major fire in 1788. Legend says a tengu from Kurama flew to the east gate. The tengu used a large fan to stop the flames. This saved the temple from destruction. The red east gate stands as a reminder of this event.
The main hall has two buildings in a rare style. During the Edo period, the eighth shogun Yoshimune restricted temple construction. This design became a way to build temples despite the limits.
The temple enshrines an Amida Nyorai statue. Emperor Go-Nara gave it to the temple. Its expression is full of peace. In the side hall, an Amida Nyorai statue from the Muromachi period shows a beautiful figure. Flying angels adorn the statue.
Today, Jofukuji Temple offers a glimpse into old Kyoto. It is a place where you can feel the history of the city. Remember the story of the tengu as you pass through the red gate. It serves as a reminder of the temple’s miraculous salvation.