Jōken-ji, Buddhist temple in Kitahiroshima, Japan
Jōken-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kitahiroshima with several buildings designed to support monastic life and meditation practice. The complex contains spaces set aside for quiet contemplation and religious ceremonies.
This temple began as Morooka-dera in 740 and was later transformed into a Sōtō Zen monastery by Buddhist master Keizan in the 14th century. That change of direction shaped the place for centuries to come.
The temple follows the Sōtō Zen school, where sitting meditation, called zazen, shapes how people move through their days. You can observe monks and practitioners gathering in meditation halls and joining ceremonies that mark the rhythm of daily life.
The temple provides information about Zen practices and offers workshops that run on a regular basis for visitors. It helps to check ahead about current programs and wear clothes that suit a meditative space.
This temple partners with schools and universities across Japan to teach Zen principles to young people. These educational programs bring students here regularly to learn directly from the monks.
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