Chōzen-ji, Buddhist temple in Kofu, Japan.
Chōzen-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kofu, featuring traditional wooden buildings, a three-story pagoda, a five-story pagoda, and a garden with a pond surrounded by cedar trees. It ranks among the Five Great Zen Temples of Kofu.
In the 16th century, Takeda Shingen chose this temple as the highest ranked among Kofu's Five Great Zen Temples. That decision gave it a lasting role as the leading religious site in the area.
The grounds hold the grave and a portrait of Lady Ooi, mother of Takeda Shingen, both recognized in Japan as Important Cultural Properties. Walking through the site, visitors can feel this personal connection to the local past.
The temple is in Atagomachi, about a ten-minute walk from the north exit of Kofu Station. The large wooden gate at the entrance is easy to spot and serves as a clear landmark.
The founding priest of this temple, Gishu Genpaku, taught Takeda Shingen Confucianism and politics during his childhood. That early education shaped much of the thinking behind the future warlord's rule.
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