Virtual Old Kamakura 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Kencho-ji Temple

 

     The area where Kencho-ji Temple is located today used to be called Jigoku-dani Valley (namely Hell Valley), where criminals were executed.  There used to be Shinpei-ji Temple (literally Peaceful Mind Temple), but it was moved when Kencho-ji Temple was built.

     Kencho-ji Temple was founded by Lanxi Daolong (1213-1278), who had been born in Shu Province (present-day Sichuan Province), China.

     Later, Wuan Puning (1197-1276) also visited the temple from China. Wuan is pronounced “gottan” in Japanese.  He made such difficult lectures that they were troublesome for his students.  We came to use a Japanese phrase “gotagota” for something troublesome after Wuan’s troublesome lectures.

Address: 8 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-8525

Phone: 0467-22-0981