“Temple of the shining light”. That is what Komyoji means. This temple stands as a beacon of Jodo sect Buddhism. It is near Kamakura in Japan.
Komyoji is not just any temple. It is the only major one in Kamakura near the sea. Tokugawa Ieyasu valued it. He made it number one among the Kanto Juhachi Danrin. This was a group of 18 Jodo temples. These temples trained priests and did scholarly research. Komyoji became the head temple for the Kanto region.
Interestingly Komyoji has features of a Zen temple. Look around. You can see a sanmon gate, a pond, and a rock garden.
Powerful figures have always supported Komyoji. It became the funeral temple for the Naito clan. These feudal lords were from Miyazaki Prefecture. Their tombs are on the temple grounds.
Beyond the cemetery Komyoji offers a special place. It is a crypt for the ashes of pets. Twice a year ceremonies honor these animals in the Main Hall. Veterinarian volunteers created this crypt. They maintain it with care.
Let’s talk about Komyoji’s history. Its exact origins are unclear. The temple says Hojo Tsunetoki founded it. He ruled Japan in 1240. He built it in the Sasukegayatsu Valley for priest Nenna Ryochu. It was first called Renge-ji or Temple of Lotuses.
Tradition tells of a dream. Tsunetoki received a divine order. He was told to rename the temple Komyoji. He moved it near the sea. The temple says this happened in 1243. However historical records do not clearly confirm this. So its foundation date is uncertain.
Emperors, shoguns, and daimyos continuously supported Komyoji. Ashikaga Takauji and Toyotomi Hideyoshi were among them. Three emperors donated their calligraphy.
Yushu Shonin restored it during the Muromachi period. Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado made it his praying temple in 1495. The buildings you see come from different times. The somon gate is the oldest from the 17th century. The Kaisando Hall is the newest built in 1924.
The temple gates are near the Wakaejima ruins. This artificial island was built in 1232. It is a national Historic Site. It is the only surviving artificial harbor from the Kamakura period.
The Zen-style main gate is impressive. It was first built in 1495. It was restored in 1624-28. Some of the old timber was reused.
The Hon-do or Main Hall is an Important Cultural Property. The Kaisando and Shoin drawing room lie to its left. Between them is a lotus pond. It was designed in the early 17th century.
The sanmon gate is a reconstruction from 1847. It is 16 meters wide with two stories. The first story is in Japanese style. The second is in Zen style. Emperor Go-Hanazono wrote Tenshozan on the gable. He sent it to the temple in 1436.
The sanmon’s second floor holds statues. The Shaka Sanzon represents Shaka, Monju Bosatsu, and Fugen Bosatsu. The Shi Tenno or Four Heavenly Kings are protector gods. The Sixteen Arhats accompany them. All statues were built in the late Edo period.
Usually closed the Sanmon opens for ceremonies. You can visit by calling the temple. Explain why you want to visit. Pay a small fee.
Next to the main hall lies the rock garden. White raked gravel rhododendrons and eight rocks make it up. Each rock represents a saint or god. Three rocks represent the Amida trinity. The remaining five stones represent Shakyamuni. They also represent priests who spread Buddhism.
Komyoji holds the Juyo Hoyo every year. It is a Ten Night Memorial Service. It started in 1495. It includes three days of sutra chanting. Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado ordered it.
During this festival the temple fills with stands. They sell plants, food, and drinks. Komyoji offers a journey through time. It is a place of peace and beauty. It shows the deep history of Buddhism in Japan.