Komyo-ji (光明寺)

December 30, 2022

Komyo-ji (光明寺)

Main Gate

Sanmon Gate

In 1240, Hojo Tsunetoki (北条経時) (1224 ~ 1246), the 4th regent of the Kamakura shogunate, founded the Buddhist temple of Renge-ji (蓮華寺) in Sasukegayatsu in Kamakura, appointing the Jodo Buddhist monk Nen'na Ryochu (然阿良忠) (1199 ~ 1287) as the founding priest. In 1243, the temple relocated to Zaimokuza, where it still stands, and was renamed Komyo-ji (光明寺).

After entering the temple through the Main Gate (総門), the two-story Sanmon (山門) Gate will appear in front. This gate is one of the largest temple gates in Kamakura and was built in 1847. It is designated as cultural property by Kanagawa Prefecture.

Main Hall under renovation

After passing under the Sanmon Gate, the Main Hall (大殿) will appear. The Main Hall was built in 1698 and is designated as cultural property by the Japanese government. Currently, it is going under the Great Reiwa Renovation as a part of the project celebrating the 850th anniversary of Jodo Buddhism. The renovation started in Feb. 2020 and is expected to take about 10 years. A video (in Japanese) on the renovation is uploaded on Komyo-ji's official YouTube channel.

Belfry

Han-ei Inari Daimyojin

To the right of the Main Hall is a belfry and an Inari shrine called Han-ei Inari Daimyojin (繁栄稲荷大明神). According to the temple legend, when the temple was still at Sasukegayatsu, Ryochu saved a small fox. Later, the parent fox appeared in his dream to thank him and left a bag of seeds of a plant used for medicine. When Kamakura was hit by a pandemic, he planted the seeds, as he was told in his dream, which grew in just 3 days. The plants helped the locals recover, eventually settling down the pandemic. Since foxes are associated with the Inari God in Japan, this Inari shrine was built inside the temple.

As the Main Hall is under renovation, all the statues are currently moved into the Kaisan-do (開山堂) Hall for visitors to see and pray.

Kaisan-do Hall

There is a Japanese garden called Kishu Teien (記主庭園), named after Ryochu's posthumous name Kishu Zenji (記主禅師), between the Main Hall and Kaisan-do Hall which can be viewed from the passageway connecting the 2 halls. This garden is famous for its lotus flowers during July and August.