About Koukyouji Temple
ABOUT KOUKYOUJI TEMPLE
Ipouzan Shoujouin Koukyouji (referred to below as "Koukyouji") is a temple located in the heart of Hiroshima City. It follows the Jodo Shu (Pure Land) sect founded by Honen Shonin, and has a history of approximately 450 years. The entire temple, including the main hall, was destroyed by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, but it was rebuilt in 1970 through the efforts of the 18th head priest and the temple's parishioners, and continues to this day.
1559 (Eiroku 2)
Founded by the priest Seiyo Enshin of Tenrensha.
1606 (Keicho 11)
Established by Priest Genrensha Shoyo Hozan, the 21st head priest of Konkai-Komyoji Temple (a head temple of the Jodo Shu sect) in Kurodani, Kyoto.
Date unknown
According to tradition, Koukyouji once stood at Gosensui, the site of what is now Shukkei-en Garden.
1619 (Genna 5)
Relocated to its current site in Hashimoto-cho when Lord Asano Naga-akira entered Hiroshima Castle.
1945 (Showa 20)
The entire temple was destroyed by the atomic bomb. Buddhist statues, temple registers, and treasures were all lost.
1946 (Showa 21)
Under the post-war land readjustment project for the reconstruction of the war-damaged city,
the temple grounds were reduced to about half their original size.
1970 (Showa 45)
The current main hall was built through the efforts of the 18th head priest, Gensei Tabe, and the parishioners.
A statue of Amida Buddha was enshrined as the principal image, received from Tanjo-ji, a special temple of the Jodo Shu sect.
2002 (Heisei 14)
Priest Masamichi Tabe became the 19th head priest of Koukyouji.
The 18th head priest, Gensei Tabe, passed away.
2017 (Heisei 29)
A succession ceremony was held, and the current head priest (20th) took office.
2024 (Reiwa 6)
Launched the official Koukyouji website and official LINE account.
Passing through the main gate, a garden unfolds that lets you forget the bustle of the city center.
A notice board is also located beside the gate.
The main hall, rebuilt after the war and enshrining the principal image of Amida Buddha, is fully fitted with chairs and equipped with air conditioning and heating.
The Yakushido Hall on the temple grounds is visited by those who pray for recovery from illness.
The serene Mizuko Kannon statue watches over and guides the souls of unborn children to the Pure Land.
Just inside the main gate stand the Six Jizo statues of Koukyouji, with a stone monument describing their history beside them.
The temple cemetery is a peaceful place to remember the departed.
It is also home to the graves of Koukyouji's past head priests and a memorial for unclaimed graves.
The communal eternal memorial grave, visited by many, offers peace of mind to those without descendants to care for their grave.
Beside the Six Jizo statues is a communal grave where beloved pets can also be memorialized and laid to rest.