Kenchô-ji is a Zen temple in Kamakura and the head temple of the Kenchôji school of the Rinzai sect. The temple was founded in 1253. At that time Kenchō-ji was one of the most influential temples in the whole of Japan, although it was damaged several times by fires and the severe earthquake in 1923. The Butsu-den hall houses jizô bosatsu, the principal deity main statue of the temple. Near the end of the temple’s garden, over a hill stands the Hansōbō, the temple’s large tutelary Shinto shrine. The statues on the stairs leading to the shrine represent tengu, entities similar to goblins which accompany the gongen (tutelary spirit).
other temples
