Inheritance of faith(1)
The teachings of the monk Ingen and Obaku culture, which are deeply rooted in modern life
At the repeated invitation of Kofukuji Temple Chief Priest Itsunen Shoyu and others, Ingen voyaged to Nagasaki from China’s Fujian Province in 1654. In 1661, he built Obaku-san Manpukuji Temple in Uji, Kyoto, and founded the Obaku-shu sect of Zen Buddhism.
The Zen priests of the Obaku school of the Rinzai sect who were represented by Ingen had a great effect on Japan in several fields, not just religion. These included, in addition to foods such as kidney beans, architecture, music, literature, printing, green tea and Chinese-style vegetarian cuisine. Collectively these disparate elements are called Obaku culture and they are deeply rooted in modern life in Japan.
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Tomeizan Kofukuji Temple
This is the oldest temple of the Obaku sect of Zen Buddhism in Japan. It was built in 1620 by Ingen. This temple is the first one the monk Ingen led in Japan. The motto "first ground Ingen set foot on" is framed at the temple gate.
Location: 4-32 Teramachi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki
PH: 095-822-1076 (Tomeizan Kofukuji)
Website: Tomeizan Kofukuji
http://kofukuji.com/english/
Admission: 300 yen (adults), 200 yen (junior high/high school), 100 yen (elementary)
Transportation: Approx. 8 min walk from "Civic Hall" tram stop
Approx. 8 min from Kyushu Odan Expressway Nagasaki-Oita Line Nagasaki-Susukizuka Interchange