Kofukuji Temple
長崎県
Vermilion gate of Japan's oldest Chinese temple — where Obaku Zen first arrived in Japan
Founded
1620
Type
Temple
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路面電車「公会堂前」から徒歩5分
長崎県長崎市寺町4-32
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Overview
Founded in 1620 by the Chinese monk Shin'en, Kofukuji is one of the oldest Chinese-style temples in Japan and is affectionately called the "Red Temple" for its striking vermilion gate. It served as a hub of Sino-Japanese cultural exchange in the early Edo period and played a key role in introducing Obaku Zen Buddhism to Japan. The precinct includes structures linked to the former Chinese quarter, …
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Origins
Founded in 1620 as Japan's first Chinese Buddhist temple (Todera) by Chinese merchant-settlers from the Nanjing region, who invited the monk Shinnen as founding priest. Under the Edo-period ban on Christianity, it served as a temple where Chinese residents affirmed their Buddhist faith, and in 1632 …
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Nagasaki Temples & Shrines Walk
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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"
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