Kōmyōji (光明寺)

Main Gate

Komyoji (光明寺), officially Tenshozan Rengein Komyoji (天照山蓮華院光明寺), is a Buddhist temple of Jodo Shu located in the Zaimokuza District of Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Sanmon

The temple was originally called Rengeji built in 1240 by Hojo Tsunetoki (北条経時), the fourth shikken of the Kamakura shogunate, as the founding patron who appointed Nenna Ryochu (然阿良忠) as the founding priest.  It stood in the Sasukegayatsu District.

In 1243, the temple relocated to its current location and was renamed Komyoji.

The sanmon was built in 1847 and designated as a Tangible Cultural Property by Kanagawa Prefecture.

Main Hall under the Great Reiwa Repair

The Main Hall was built in 1698 was designated as a Tangible Cultural Property by the Japanese government.  Since the hall is currently going under the Great Reiwa Repair as a project to commemorate the 850th anniversary of Jodo Shu, the statues of Buddha are moved into the Kaisan-do (開山堂) Hall standing northwest of the Main Hall.

Kaisan-do Hall

Between the Main Hall and Kaisan-do Hall is the Kishu Teien (記主庭園), a Japanese garden named after Ryochu's posthumous name, and Taisho-kaku (大聖閣).

The temple also has a Zen garden which is currently closed due to the Great Reiwa Repair.

Han-ei Inari Daimyojin (繁栄稲荷大明神)

Han-ei Inari Daimyojin

It is said Ryochu once saved a young fox when the temple was still at Sasukegayatsu.  Later, the parent fox appeared in his dream to express gratitude and left a pouch of seeds of medicinal herbs.  When Kamakura was hit by a pandemic, Ryochu planted the seeds which grew in three days.  The medicinal herbs swiftly drove away the pandemic after taken.  Since foxes are associated with Inari, Han-ei Inari Daimyojin (繁栄稲荷大明神) was built.