Hōkyō-ji explained

Hōkyō-ji (宝慶寺) is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple founded about 1278 in Echizen, Fukui prefecture, Japan.[1]

History and founding

Jakuen left Eihei-ji in 1261. He meditated in solitary with the wild animals at the base of Mount Ginnanpo, about 25km (16miles) away. By one account, a leader of the Fujiwara clan in charge of the Ono District, Ijira Tomotoshi happened to find him during a hunt, and offered his financial support. In 1278, Tomotoshi's son Tomanari built a temple for Jakuen who apparently wished to revere Ju-ching by taking the name from the Hōkyō era in China, a period during which Ju-ching was Dogen's teacher.[2]

Giun, who was Jakuen's student and eventual Dharma heir, joined Hōkyō-ji in 1279, where he succeeded Jakuen as the abbot in 1299 for 15 years. Later Giun went to Eihei-ji for 18 years.

Keizan joined in 1282, when he became ino. Studying with Jakuen, Keizan experienced enlightenment at Hōkyō-ji in 1285.

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Bodiford, pp. 36, 66.
  2. Bodiford, p. 66.