Shōjō-ji, Buddhist temple in Yugawa, Japan.
Shōjō-ji is a temple in Yugawa with multiple buildings, including the Yakushi Hall as the main worship space, an entrance gate, kitchen facilities, and the head priest's residence. The Yakushi Hall features a copper-sheathed roof that replaced the original thatched covering in 1964.
Founded in 807 by scholar-monk Tokuitsu, the temple began as a large complex with twelve monk residences and over a hundred sub-temples. Over time, this extensive complex shrank to its present size.
The temple houses more than thirty Buddhist statues, including a Yakushi Nyorai figure carved from Zelkova wood, which visitors continue to revere today. These artworks show how believers used this place as a spiritual center across the centuries.
The temple is relatively easy to find, and visitors can explore most areas of the complex without major restrictions. It helps to arrive in early morning hours, when the place is quieter and you can better understand its layout.
The temple preserves five objects designated as National Important Cultural Properties, including Heian-period statues of the Four Heavenly Kings. These rare pieces are often overlooked because visitors typically focus on the more prominent main hall.
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