‹
福岡県
Toku
[ No photos yet ]
Be the first to share one
Shofukuji Temple
福岡県
Japan's first Zen temple founded by Eisai in 1195 — the birthplace of Zen and tea culture in Japan
Founded
1195
Type
Temple
Visited
Want to go
Access
8 min walk from Gion Subway Station
6-1 Gokusonmachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Open in Google Maps ↗
Info
Temple
Founded 1195
831 years
Enshrined Deity
釈迦如来
→
Buddhist Sect
Rinzai Sect, Shofukuji branch
→
Overview
Japan's first Zen temple, founded by Eisai in 1195 after his return from Song-dynasty China. Designated headquarters of the Shofukuji branch of Rinzai Zen, it received the imperial name-tablet 'Shofuku Mannen Zenji' from retired Emperor Gotoba. Several buildings are designated Important Cultural Properties.
Origins
Shofukuji was founded in 1195 by the Zen master Eisai upon his return from his second visit to Song-dynasty China, making it Japan's first Zen temple. Eisai used this site as a base for propagating Rinzai Zen, and is also revered as the 'father of tea culture' for introducing tea practices to Japan …
Read more
Divine Benefits
Warding Off Evil
Purification
Rebirth in Pure Land
Averting disaster, directional protection, warding off epidemics. Central at Fudo, Kannon, and Gion-related sites.
Derived from the enshrined deity "釈迦如来"

人
Related Figures
— 1

Eisai
Father of Rinzai Zen & Japanese Tea
Age 54 at founding
›
Japan's first Zen temple, founded in Hakata in 1195 by the Zen master Eisai, who brought Zen from Song China. Granted the imperial plaque reading First Zen Retreat in Japan by Retired Emperor Go-Toba, it marks the start of Japanese Rinzai Zen.
Posts
0
＋
No posts yet
Goshuin
No goshuin posts yet
Also Worth Visiting
圓
Engakuji Temple Hakata
The Hakata Zen temple that preserved the Nanporoku — Rikyu's secret transmission of tea
151m
→
承
Jotenji Temple
The Zen temple said to have introduced udon, soba, and the Hakata Yamakasa to Japan
325m
→
妙
Myorakuji Temple
A 1241 Rinzai temple where merchant Sha Kokumei welcomed Zen master Enni from Song China
168m
→
崇
Sofukuji Temple
Funerary temple of the Kuroda clan — where domain founders Yoshitaka and Nagamasa rest
939m
→
節
Sesshin-in Temple
Funerary temple of Kato Shisho, the loyalist domain elder who died in the 1865 purge
134m
→
櫛
Kushida Jinja
Hakata's chief guardian shrine, home to the thousand-year Gion Yamakasa festival
600m
→
住
Sumiyoshi Jinja Hakata
The origin of 2,300 Sumiyoshi shrines — Empress Jingu's guardian of the seas
1.3km
→
東
Tochoji Temple
Japan's first esoteric Buddhist temple founded by Kukai in 806 — home to the 10.8-metre wooden Fukuoka Daibutsu
253m
→
記
Suggest an update
Suggest fixes to the location, history, visiting hours, access, facilities, notes and more
›
Report incorrect info ›
Get the app for a better experience
Auto stamp via GPS, offline access, and favorites tracking
View in app
＋
Explore pilgrimage with the app
View in app
✕