Enkaku-ji Japanese: 円覚寺 | |
Location: | Shuri Tōnokura 2-1, Naha, Okinawa prefecture |
Religious Affiliation: | Rinzai Zen |
Country: | Japan |
Functional Status: | Closed as of 1945 |
Year Completed: | 1494 |
was a Rinzai Buddhist temple and royal bodaiji of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, in Naha, Okinawa.
The temple was erected during the reign of King Shō Shin (r. 1477–1526), the first abbot being Kaiin Shōko (Japanese: 芥隠承琥). It was also used as bodaiji of Ryukyuan kings. Ryukyuan kings would visit Enkaku-ji, Tennō-ji and Tenkai-ji after their genpuku and investiture.[1]
Enkaku-ji was recognized as a national treasure of Japan in 1933, but it was destroyed in the 1945 battle of Okinawa. Only the sōmon (general gate) and were reconstructed in 1968 because of lack of historical records. The government of Okinawa Prefecture began plans to reconstruct its sanmon in 2014.[2] [3]