Sōfuku-ji, Buddhist temple in Nagasaki, Japan
Sōfuku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Chinese architectural style in Nagasaki and is designated a National Treasure of Japan. The compound includes several halls with curved roofs, a paved courtyard and a two-story gate structure marking the entrance to the inner precinct.
The temple was established in 1629 by Chinese merchants from Fujian province and served their religious needs during trading voyages to Nagasaki. The current main buildings date from the 17th century and were erected by craftsmen from China using imported materials and techniques.
The halls preserve Chinese script and calligraphy visible on facades, door lintels and lanterns throughout the compound. Stone carvings of bats, peonies and peach blossoms appear across the courtyard, giving the buildings their traditional character.
The temple sits in the Kajiya-machi neighborhood and opens daily from morning to late afternoon. A leisurely walk through the grounds takes about half an hour and can easily be combined with other sites in central Nagasaki.
The gate structure and the large hall both hold National Treasure status and show late Ming Dynasty construction with original timber frames and roof tiles. Some of the interior fittings were shipped directly from China on merchant vessels and assembled on site in Nagasaki.
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