Shōkaku-ji, Buddhist temple in Jōnan-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
Shōkaku-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple in Fukuoka featuring a Sanmon Gate positioned above a small pond with a connecting bridge leading to the main hall. The layout integrates water features, architecture, and landscaping according to traditional design principles that guide movement through the grounds.
The temple was founded in 1195 by the monk Eisai and became a key location for spreading the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism from China to Japan. This early establishment marks when one of Japan's most influential Buddhist movements took root in the country.
The main hall displays a wooden Buddha statue flanked by two golden figures, with a cloud dragon painted across the ceiling above them. This arrangement creates a visual hierarchy that visitors experience directly upon entering the sacred space.
The temple sits within walking distance from Gion Station and is just one train stop from Hakata Station, making it easy to reach. Entry is free of charge, so you can visit at any time without worrying about admission costs.
Each February the temple holds a ritual in which porridge is prepared and left to harden, with the thickness of the resulting cake used to predict weather and harvest conditions for the year ahead. This practice blends religious ceremony with folk divination in a way that visitors rarely encounter elsewhere.
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