Jōten-ji, Buddhist temple in Hakata, Japan
Jōten-ji is a Buddhist temple in Hakata featuring a stone garden called Sentotei that represents the Genkai-nada Sea through carefully placed rocks and raked gravel patterns. The garden sits near the main hall and conveys a sense of landscape through its spare, deliberate design.
A Chinese merchant named Xie Guoming and local official Muto Sukeyori founded the temple in 1242 as a center for international trade. This establishment made it a significant place for cultural exchange between China and Japan.
Monk Enni, the first abbot, brought techniques for making udon, soba noodles, and manju from China to this place. These skills shaped local food traditions and show how the temple influenced the region's way of life.
The temple is about a 5-minute walk from Gion Station on the Fukuoka City Subway, with the Hakata Sennenno-mon Gate marking its entrance. The station serves as a clear landmark to guide your way there.
The temple connects to the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, which traces its roots to prayer rituals performed by Monk Enni. This link spans roughly 780 years and shows how deeply rooted the place is in local celebrations.
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