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Chisoku: The Buddhist Teaching of Knowing Contentment and Its Temple Heritage
Chisoku, meaning "knowing contentment," is a core Buddhist teaching from the Bequeathed Teachings Sutra. Many temples enshrine this wisdom in their mountain name (sangō), including Chisoku-zan Ryūge-ji in Kanazawa-Hakkei, Yokohama. This article explains the origin of chisoku, the meaning of Ryūge (Maitreya's enlightenment tree), and nearby pilgrimage sites in the Kamakura area.
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Author
Hijiri
| Shrines & Temples
Contents
MOKUJI
一
What Is Chisoku?—The Scriptural Foundation of "Few Desires, Knowing Contentment"
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二
What the Name "Ryūge" Reveals—The Sacred Tree of Maitreya Bodhisattva
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三
The History and Treasures of Chisoku-zan Ryūge-ji
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四
Pilgrimage Sites to Experience the Spirit of Chisoku
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五
Summary
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六
Frequently Asked Questions
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Maitreya Bodhisattva at Koryu-ji. The original principal image at Ryuge-ji was also Maitreya; the name "Ryuge" derives from the Nagapushpa tree under which Maitreya will attain enlightenment
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
“One who knows contentment is rich, even lying on bare ground.” This phrase, often attributed to Laozi, also has deep roots in Buddhist teaching. Chisoku (知足, “knowing contentment”) is a concept distilled from the teaching of shōyoku chisoku (少欲知足, “few desires, knowing contentment”) recorded in the Yuijōkyō (Bequeathed Teachings Sutra), which the Buddha delivered to his disciples just before entering parinirvana. Chisoku-zan Ryūge-ji in Kanazawa-Hakkei, Yokohama, is a temple that enshrines precisely this Buddhist core in its mountain name. Why do temples use “chisoku” in their mountain name (sangō), and what is encoded in the name “Ryūge”? This article traces the teaching from the sutras through history to the meaning of pilgrimage itself.
What Is Chisoku?—The Scriptural Foundation of “Few Desires, Knowing Contentment”
The Buddha’s Final Words in the Yuijōkyō
The philosophical basis of chisoku lies in the Yuijōkyō (Bequeathed Teachings Sutra), delivered by Shakyamuni Buddha to his disciples immediately before his parinirvana. Also known by its formal title Bussu Hatsunehan Ryakusetsu Kyōkai-kyō, it is often called “the Buddha’s testament.”
Within it we find: “One who knows contentment, though lying upon the ground, is at peace and at ease. One who does not know contentment, though dwelling in a heavenly palace, is still dissatisfied.” This is the Buddha’s fundamental insight: fulfillment comes not from external circumstances but from the internal state of the mind.
Shōyoku and Chisoku—Two Complementary Virtues
Shōyoku chisoku comprises two related virtues:
Virtue
Meaning
Practical Example
Shōyoku (少欲)
Minimizing desire
Not seeking more than is needed
Chisoku (知足)
Being satisfied with what one has
Appreciating the present situation
Where shōyoku is an active practice of restraining desire, chisoku is an inward wisdom—the capacity to recognize the value of what is already present. The two work together like the two wheels of a cart, forming the foundation of Buddhist practice.
In Zen Buddhism especially, this teaching is central: monks practicing a simple life of modest food, clothing, and shelter embody “knowing contentment” as the very path to awakening.
Dainichi Nyorai (Vairocana) at Nanatsu-dera. The current principal image of Ryuge-ji is Dainichi Nyorai, the supreme buddha of Shingon Buddhism, symbolizing cosmic wisdom and compassion
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
What the Name “Ryūge” Reveals—The Sacred Tree of Maitreya Bodhisattva
The Nāgapuṣpa Tree and Maitreya’s Enlightenment
The name Ryūge (龍華) carries a profound faith in Maitreya Bodhisattva (Miroku Bosatsu), the future Buddha. Ryūge refers to the nāgapuṣpa tree (Sanskrit: Nāgapuṣpa), under which Maitreya is prophesied to attain enlightenment far in the future.
5,670,000,000 years from now, when the power of Shakyamuni’s teachings has faded, Maitreya will descend to this world and hold three great assemblies (Ryūge Sange) beneath the ryūge tree, saving innumerable beings.
Ryūge Sange—The Three Assemblies of Future Salvation
The Ryūge Sange (龍華三会) refers to Maitreya’s three assemblies after his enlightenment:
Assembly
Those Saved
First Assembly
9.6 billion who accumulated merit during Shakyamuni’s age
Second Assembly
9.4 billion who once heard the Dharma
Third Assembly
9.2 billion who ever joined hands in reverence
Temples and halls bearing the name “Ryūge” across Japan all carry this meaning—they are places of hope where devotees pray to be saved at Maitreya’s future assemblies. The fact that the original principal image of Chisoku-zan Ryūge-ji was a seated Maitreya (crafted in 1500 CE) reflects this very faith.
Womb Realm Mandala at To-ji. Centered on Dainichi Nyorai, it maps the truths of the universe — the foundational vision of Shingon Buddhist temples
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
The History and Treasures of Chisoku-zan Ryūge-ji
An Ancient Shingon Temple by Kanazawa-Hakkei Bay
Chisoku-zan Ryūge-ji stands in Seto, Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama—a quasi-head temple of the Omuro branch of Shingon Buddhism. Founded in 1499 (Meiō 8), it carries over 500 years of history.
Its current principal image is Dainichi Nyorai (Vairocana Buddha), the supreme cosmic buddha of Shingon Buddhism, from whom all phenomena arise. The mountain name “Chisoku-zan” declares that the temple’s spiritual foundation is the teaching of shōyoku chisoku, and the entire precinct has functioned as a dojo for practicing the Buddhist way of life that “knows contentment.” The temple also has deep ties to Tokugawa Ieyasu and received his protection through the Edo period.
Cultural Properties Preserved Within
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Seated Bodhisattva in the datsukatsu kanshitsu technique (Kanagawa Prefectural Designated Cultural Property): Created using the datsukatsu kanshitsu (hollow dry lacquer) method—layers of hemp cloth are fixed with lacquer, then the wooden core is removed—a technically demanding process dating to the Nara–Early Heian period.
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4,686 Ryūge-ji Sacred Texts (Yokohama City Designated Tangible Cultural Property): A vast collection of hand-copied scriptures, ritual manuals (giki), and commentaries (ronsho) from Shingon Esoteric Buddhism.
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Former Principal Image: Seated Maitreya (1500 CE): Now enshrined separately, it testifies to the Maitreya faith of the temple’s founding era.
Sanmon gate of Kencho-ji. The teaching of chisoku is also central to Zen, and Kamakura's Zen temples embody the spirit of "few desires" in the austere simplicity of their temple grounds
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Pilgrimage Sites to Experience the Spirit of Chisoku
Kanazawa-Hakkei Area—Walking the World of Chisoku
The Kanazawa-Hakkei area where Chisoku-zan Ryūge-ji stands was once celebrated as a scenic spot immortalized in verse. Nearby are Shōmyō-ji (a famous temple of the Shingon Ritsu school, renowned for its Ajiga-ike pond and Pure Land garden) and Seto Shrine (an ancient shrine associated with Minamoto no Yoritomo). A half-day circuit connects all three.
Kamakura’s Zen Temples—Embodying “Few Desires”
Kamakura’s Zen temples embody the spirit of shōyoku chisoku in the austere simplicity of their temple grounds.
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Kencho-ji — Japan’s first formal Zen temple, where the strict practice introduced by founder Rankei Dōryū was itself an embodiment of chisoku.
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Engaku-ji — Founded in 1282 by Hōjō Tokimune to comfort the spirits of those killed in the Mongol invasions. Its quiet precinct invites a direct experience of “knowing contentment.”
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Hase-dera — Home to the great eleven-faced Kannon. The compassion of the Bodhisattva and the spirit of chisoku are deeply intertwined here.
Tea ceremony at Ankokuron-ji, Kamakura. Just as Rikyu refined the Zen spirit of "knowing contentment" into the Way of Tea, Kamakura's temple culture has embedded chisoku into daily life
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Summary
Pilgrimage Tips
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Ryūge-ji’s precinct is relatively intimate. Confirm the mountain name “Chisoku-zan” on the signage, and take time to walk slowly with the spirit of “knowing contentment” in mind.
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Reading the explanatory boards for the cultural properties deepens understanding of the datsukatsu kanshitsu technique and the meaning of Maitreya faith.
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The Kanazawa-Hakkei area is best covered as a half-day circuit: Shōmyō-ji → Seto Shrine → Ryūge-ji.
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At Kamakura’s Zen temples, consciously make time to sit in the silence of the precinct—this is how the teaching of chisoku becomes felt rather than merely understood.
Related Spots
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Chisoku-zan Ryūge-ji — Experience both the meaning of “chisoku” and “ryūge” within its precincts
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Shōmyō-ji — Famous Shingon Ritsu temple in Kanazawa-Hakkei with a beautiful Pure Land garden
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Seto Shrine — Ancient shrine associated with Yoritomo, a short walk from Ryūge-ji
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Kencho-ji — Japan’s first Zen temple, where the spirit of “few desires” lives in austere simplicity
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Engaku-ji — A Zen temple founded by Hōjō Tokimune; its quiet precinct embodies chisoku
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Hase-dera — Where Kannon’s compassion and the teaching of contentment converge
Recommended Pilgrimage Course
The “Chisoku and Zen One-Day Course” from Kanazawa-Hakkei to Kamakura: Ryūge-ji → Shōmyō-ji → Kencho-ji → Engaku-ji. This route traces the lineage of shōyoku chisoku as it flows from Shingon Esoteric Buddhism through Zen—a lineage you can experience through space itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “chisoku” a term unique to temple mountain names?
No. Chisoku is a concept used widely across all of Buddhism, regardless of sect—Zen, Shingon, Pure Land, and others all uphold it as a fundamental virtue of practice. In the world of the tea ceremony, the Zen spirit of “knowing contentment” underpins the aesthetics of wabi-cha. When a temple adopts it as its mountain name, it is making an explicit declaration of the teaching as the temple’s spiritual foundation.
Does Ryūge-ji charge an admission fee?
Basic access to the precinct for worship is generally permitted, but for special exhibitions of cultural properties or events associated with religious ceremonies, please contact the temple directly. Some facilities in the Kanazawa-Hakkei area, including Shōmyō-ji, charge an admission fee, so it is advisable to confirm in advance.
Are there many temples called “Ryūge” across Japan?
Yes. Temples bearing the name Ryūge (龍華) exist throughout Japan, all rooted in faith in Maitreya Bodhisattva and the hope of being saved at the Ryūge Sange assemblies in the distant future. Many were founded during the Nara and Heian periods when Maitreya faith spread widely.
Last updated: May 26, 2026
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Author
Hijiri（ひじり）
Shrines & Temples
Toku editorial team — shrines and temples. Former designer who reads temple architecture and gardens through an aesthetic lens, quietly tracing the lineages of sects and doctrines.
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