Wikipedia / Provincial temple
Wikipedia / Provincial temple
The are Buddhist templess established in each of the provinces of Japan by Emperor Shōmu during the Nara period (710 794). The official name for each temple was Konkomyo Shitenno Gokoku-ji (Konkōmyō Shitennō Gokoku-ji )
History
The Shoku Nihongi records that in 741, as the country recovered from a major smallpox epidemic, Emperor Shōmu ordered that a monastery and nunnery be established in every province. Each temple was to have one statue of Shaka Nyorai and two attendant Bodhisattva statues, and a copy of the Large Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras. Later, it was added that each temple must also have a seven-story pagoda, copies of ten volumes of the Lotus Sutra and a copy of the Golden Light Sutra in golden letters. To provide funds for the upkeep, each temple and nunnery was to be assigned 50 households and 10 chō of paddy fields (approximately 10 hectares). Each temple would have 20 monks and each nunnery would have 10 nuns. These temples were built to a semi-standardized template, and served both to spread Buddhist orthodoxy to the provinces, and to emphasize the power of the Nara period centralized government under the Ritsuryō system.
The precedent for this system was the Daxingshan Temples built by Emperor Wen and Yang Jian, who founded the Sui dynasty. Later, in the Tang dynasty, there were Daun-ji provincial temples built by Empress Wu Zetian, Ryuko-ji provincial temples built by Emperor Zhongzong, and Kaigen-ji provincial temples) built by Emperor Xuanzong.
However, despite the edict, the expense for creation of these temples was very great, and the kokushi of most provinces procrastinated on construction. In November 747, the exasperated emperor transferred the construction system from kokushi to the gunji, or a county-level administrator and granted hereditary succession of the post upon completion of the temple. This led to the full-scale construction of most provincial temples. Most of the kokubunji were located in or near the provincial capitals, and, together with the provincial offices, were the largest buildings in the province. In addition, Todai-ji and Hokke-ji in Yamato Province were designated as the head temple and head nunnery for the system. The kokubunji system persisted into the mid-Heian period, but as the Ritsuryō system began to collapse and financial support from the government disappeared, many of the provincial temples and provincial nunneries fell into disuse. A considerable number of provincial temples continued to exist even into the modern period, but as temples of a different sect or with a different character from the original provincial temples. Many of the provincial nunneries were not restored. Many of the sites of the original temples and nunneries are known, and some have been designated National Historic Sites after archaeological excavations.
Kokubun-ji | Location | HS&successor | Kokubun-niji | Location | HS&successor |
Head Kokubun-ji | Head Kokubun-niji | ||||
Zoshicho, Nara, Nara | NHSTōdai-ji | Hokkejicho, Nara, Nara | NHSHokke-ji | ||
Yamato Kokubun-ji | Zoshicho, Nara, Nara | NHSTōdai-ji | Yamato Kokubun-niji | Hokkejicho, Nara, Nara | NHSHokke-ji |
Kamo-cho Reihei Kizugawa, Kyoto | NHS（Kuni-kyō（Yamashiro Kokubun-ji ruins））Yamashiro Kokubun-ji | Yamashiro Kokubun-niji | （推定）Hokkejino, Kamō-cho, Kizugawa, Kyoto | -none--none- | |
Kokubu Tojo, Kashiwara, Osaka | -none-Shingoshu Kawachi Kokubun-ji | Kawachi Kokubun-niji | （推定）Kokubu Tōjōcho, Kashiwara, Osaka | -none--none- | |
Kokubunji-cho, Izumi, Osaka | -none-Gokokuzan Kokubun-ji | Izumi Kokubun-niji | (Unknown) | -none- | |
Kokubuncho, Tennōji-ku, Osaka | -none-Tentokuzan Kokubun-jiGokokuzan Kongō-in Kokubun-ji | Settsu Kokubun-niji | （推定）Shibashima, Higashiyodogawa-ku, Osaka | -none-Tenpyo Shōhōzan Hokke-ji | |
Saimyōji, Iga, Mie | NHSKami-terayama Kokubun-ji | Saimyōji, Iga, Mie | NHS (Chōrakuzan temple ruins）Ryūōzan Kikushō-in Hokke-ji | ||
Kokubun-cho, Suzuka, Mie | NHSGokokuzan Jinsei Maruto-in Kokubun-jiMyōjōsan Kokubun-jiJōkeizan Konkōmyō-in Kokubun-ji | Ise Kokubun-niji | (Unknown) | -none- | |
Ago-cho, Shima, Mie | Mie PHSGokoku-san Kokubunji | Shima Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none- | |
Yago-cho, Inazawa, Aichi | NHSSuzuokiyama Kokubun-ji | Owari Kokubun-niji | Hokkeji-cho, Inazawa, Aichi (?) | Daireizan Hokke-ji | |
Yawata-cho, Toyokawa, Aichi | NHSKokufushozan Kokubun-ji | Yawata-cho, Toyokawa, Aichi | NHS-ruins- | ||
Mitsuke, Iwata, Shizuoka | S.NHSSankeizan Enmei-in Kokubun-ji | Tōtōmi Kokubu-niji | （Unknown） | -none- | |
Ōtani, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka | NHS Ryūzũyama Kokubun-ji | Suzuga Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none-（伝）Shōgakusan Bodaijū-iin | |
Izumi-cho, Mishima, Shizuoka | NHS (pagoda base only)Hōjūsan Kokubun-ji | Izu Kokubun-niji | Minami-cho, Mishima, Shizuoka | -none- Mishimasan Hokke-ji | |
Ichinomiya-cho Kokubun, Fuefuki, Yamanashi | NHSGokokusan Kokubun-ji | Higashihara, Ichinomiya-cho, Fuefuki, Yamanashi | NHS-none- | ||
Kokubu-minami Ebina, Kanagawa | NHSTōkōzan Iōin Kokubun-ji | Kokubu-kita, Ebina, Kanagawa | NHS-none- | ||
Nishimotocho, Kokubunji, Tokyo | NHS Iōzen Saishōin Kokubun-ji | Nishimotocho, Kokubunji, Tokyo | NHS -none- | ||
Kokubun, Tateyama, Chiba | PHS Nisshikizan Kokubun-ji | Awa Kokubun-niji | (Unknown) | -none- | |
Sōza, Ichihara, Chiba | NHSIōzan Seijō-in Kokubun-ji | Kokubunjidai-chuo, Ichihara, Chiba | NHS-none- | ||
Kokubu, Ichikawa, Chiba | NHSKokubu Kokubun-ji | Kokubu, Ichikawa, Chiba | NHS-none- | ||
Fuchu, Ishioka, Ibaraki | S.NHSJōrurizan Tōhō-in Kokubun-ji | Wakamatsu, Ishioka, Ibaraki | S.NHS -none- | ||
（推定）Kise, Kōka, Shiga（within Shigaraki Palace）（推定）Seta temple ruins, Ōtsu, Shiga（推定）Hikarigaokacho, Ōtsu, Shiga （Kokushoji Temple ruins, Ōtsu） | 1：NHS（Shigaraki Palace）Besshōzan Kokubun-ji | Ōmi Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none--none- | |
Aono-cho, Ōgaki, Gifu | NHSKinginzan Ruriko-in Kokubun-ji | Mino Kokubun-niji | （推定）Hirao, Fuwa District, Tarui, Gifu | -none--none- | |
Sowa-cho, Takayama, Gifu | NHS (Pagoda only)Iozan Hida Kokubun-ji | Hida Kokubun-niji | Okamotocho, Takayama, GufuTsujigamori Jinja ruin | CHSKenshōzan Kokubun-ji | |
Kokubu, Ueda, Nagano | NHSShinano Kokubun-ji | Kokubu, Ueda, Nagano | HS-none- | ||
Higashikokubu, Takasaki, Gunma | NHSKokubun-ji | Higashikokubu, Takasaki, Gunma | NHS-none- | ||
Kokubunji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi | NHSRurikozan Anyo-in Kokubun-ji | Kokubunji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi | NHS-none- | ||
NHSGokokusan Io-in Kokubun-ji | Shirahagi-cho, Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai, Miyagi | ||||
Dewa Kokubun-ji | （推定）Jowa, Sakata, Yamagata（推定) | 1：NHS（Dōnomae ruins）Gokokuzan Hakusan-ji | Dewa Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none--none- |
Kokubu, Obama, Fukui, | NHSWakasa Kokubun-ji | Wakasa Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none--none- | |
Echizen Kokubun-ji | （Unknown） | -none- Gokokusan Kokubun-ji | Echizen Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none--none- |
Kaga Kokubun-ji | （推定）Kofucho, Komatsu, Ishikawa | -none- -none- | Kaga Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none--none- |
Kokubuncho, Nanao, Ishikawa | NHS-none- | Noto Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none--none- | |
Fushiki Ichinomiya Takaoka, Toyama | PHSEtchu Kokubun-ji | Etchū Kokubun-niji | Fushiki Ichinomiya, Takaoka, Toyama | -none--none- | |
Echigo Kokubun-ji | （推定）Kokufu, Jōetsu, Niigata | -none-Ankokusan Kezō-in Kokubun-ji | Echigo Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none--none- |
Kokubunji, Sado, Niigata | NHSIozan Ruriko-in Kokubun-ji | Sado Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none--none- | |
Kokubu, Chitose-cho, Kameoka, Kyoto | NHSGokokuzan Kokubun-ji | Tanba Kokubun-niji | Kawarajiri, Kawarabayashi-cho, Kameoka, Kyoto | -none--none- | |
Kokubu, Miyazu, Kyoto | NHSGokokuzan Kokubun-ji | Tango Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none--none- | |
Hidaka Kokubunji, Toyooka, Hyogo | NHSGiokokuzan Kokubun-ji | Tajima Kokubun-niji | Hidaka, Toyooka, Hyogo | -none-Tendaizan Hokke-ji | |
Kokubunji, Kokufu-cho, Tottori, Tottori | -none-Saishōzan Kokubun-ji | Inaba Kokubun-niji | -none--none- | ||
Kokubunji, Kurayoshi, Tottori | NHSGokokuzan Kokubun-ji | Hōki Kokubun-niji | （推定）Kokubunji, Kurayoshi, Tottori | -none--none- | |
Takeyacho, Matsue, Shimane | NHS -none- | Izumo Kokubun-niji | Takeyacho, Matsue, Shimane | -none- -none- | |
Kokubuncho, Hamada, Shimane | NHSTōkō-zan Kokubun-ji | Iwami Kokubun-niji | Kokubuncho, Hamada, Shimane | PHSRyōshōzan Kōmyō-ji | |
Ikeda, Okinoshima, Shimane | NHSZenōzan Kokubun-ji | Oki Kokubun-niji | Yuki, Okinoshima, Shimane | PHS-none- | |
Mikunomachi Kokubunji, Himeji, Hyōgo | NHSUshidōzan Kokubun-ji | Harima Kokubun-niji | Kokubunji, Himeji, Hyōgo | -none- Kongō-san Tokushō-ji | |
Kokubunji, Tsuyama, Okayama | NHSRyujusan Kokubun-ji | Mimasaka Kokubun-niji | Kokubunji, Tsuyama, Okayama | -none--none- | |
Umaya, Akaiwa, Okayama | NHSKonkōzan Enju-in Zenkyō-ji | Bizen Kokubun-niji | Umaya, Hosaki, Akaiwa, Okayama | -none--none- | |
Kamibayashi, Sōja, Okayama | NHSNisshōzan Sōjiin Kokubunji | Kamibayashi, Sōja, Okayama | NHS -none- | ||
Kannabe-cho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima | -none-Karaoyama Iō-in Kokubun-ji | Bingo Kokubun-niji | （推定）Kannabe-cho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima | -none- -none- | |
Saijō-cho Yoshiyuki, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima | NHSKinjōzan Jōkō-in Kokubun-ji | Aki Kokubun-niji | （推定）Saijō-cho Yoshiyuki, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima | -none- -none- | |
Kokubunjicho, Hōfu, Yamaguchi | NHSJōrurizan Kokubun-ji | Suo Kokubun-niji| | Kokubunjicho, Hōfu, Yamaguchi | -none- Jōkaizan Hokke-ji | |
Nagato Kokubun-ji | Miyanouchi-cho, Chofu, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi | -none-Jōrurizan Kokubun-ji | Nagato Kokubun-niji | （推定）Chōfu, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi | -none--none- |
Higashi-Kokubu, Kinokawa, Wakayama | NHSHakkōzan Iōin Kokubun-ji | Kii Kokubun-niji | （推定）Nishikokubu, Iwade, Wakayama | -none-- none - | |
Yagi Kokubu Minamiawaji, Hyogo | NHS (pagoda site)Awaji Kokubun-ji | Awaji Kokubun-niji | （推定）Yagi, Minamiawaji, Hyogo | -none-Kinunzan Rishō-in | |
Kokufu-cho Yano, Tokushima, Tokushima | PNHSYakuōzan Konjiki-in Kokubun-ji | Meizai, Ishii, Tokushima | NHS -none- | ||
Kokubu Kokubunji-cho, Takamatsu, Kagawa | SNHSHakuushizan Senju-in Kokubun-ji | Arai Kokubunji-cho, Takamatsu, Kagawa | NHSDaijisan Hokke-ji | ||
Kokubuncho, Imabari, Ehime | NHS (pagoda site)Konkōzan Saishō-in Kokubun-ji | Iyo Kokubun-niji | （推定）Sakuraim Imabari, Ehime | PHS (pagoda site)Fudarakuzan Hokke-ji | |
Kokubun, Nankoku, Kōchi | NHSMani-san Hōzō-in Kokubun-ji | Tosa Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none--none- | |
Kokubu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka | NHSRyutōkōzan Kokubun-ji | Chikuzen Kokubun-niji | Kokubu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka | -none--none- | |
Kokubuncho, Kurume, Fukuoka | CHSGokokuzan Kokubun-ji | Chikugo Kokubun-niji | （推定）Kokubuncho, Kurume, Fukuoka | -none--none- | |
Kokubu Miyako, Fukuoka | NHSKonkōmyōzan Kokubun-ji | Buzen Kokubun-niji | （推定）Tokusei, Kokubu, Miyako Fukuoka | -none--none- | |
Kokubu, Oita, Oita | NHSIōzan Kokubun-ji | Bungo Kokubun-niji | （推定）Kokubu, Oita, Oita | -none- | |
Yamatocho Niji, Saga, Saga | PHSKonkomyoozan Kokubun-ji | Hizen Kokubun-niji | Yamatocho Niji, Saga, Saga | -none--none- | |
Higo Kokubun-ji | Izumi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto | -none-Iōzan Kokubun-ji | Higo Kokubun-niji | Izumi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto | -none--none- |
Mitake, Saito, Miyazaki | NHS-none- | Hyūga Kokubun-niji | Umatsu, Saito, Miyazaki | -none--none- | |
Kokubu Chuo, Kirishima, Kagoshima | NHS-none- | Ōsumi Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none- -none- | |
Kokubunjicho, Satsumasendai, Kagoshima | NHS -none- | Satsuma Kokubun-niji | （推定）Amatsucho, Satsumasendai, Kagoshima | -none- -none- | |
Kokubu Honmura, Ashiba Iki, Nagasaki | PNSGokokuan Kokubun-ji | Iki Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none--none- | |
（推定）Izuhara Imayashiki, Tsushima, Nagasaki | -none-Tentōkuzan Kokubun-ji | Tsuhima Kokubun-niji | （Unknown） | -none- -none- |
List of Kokubunji
(Key: NHS= National Historic Site, PHS=Prefectural Historic Site, CHS= City Historic Site)
Modern place names
Modern place names based on this etymology include:
See also
Ichinomiya (primary shrines of the province)
Soja shrine (shrines that consolidated the deity for every province)
References