Jokoji Temple
Anoshu and Jokoji Temple
Anoshu were a group of skilled stonemasons based in the Anou district of Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture. They were renowned for their stone wall construction techniques, building the stone walls of historic castles such as Azuchi Castle and Osaka Castle. Jokoji Temple was established as the family temple of the head of the Anoshu, known as the Anou-gashira. To this day, it maintains and preserves the graves of the Anou-gashira and continues to honor their legacy.
Jokoji is a temple of the Tendai Shinsei sect. Our head temple is Saikyoji, and we follow the teachings of our founder, Saint Shinsei: "Precepts and Chanting," "Desirelessness and Purity," and "A Thousand Recitations of the Nembutsu." Centered around the Sakamoto area, we maintain the sacred flame as a Nembutsu training hall that memorializes the spirits of the local community. The area where Jokoji is located, formerly known as Takabatake Village, has been called the 'Village of Anō Stone Walls' since ancient times. As the family temple of the successive Anō leaders and stonemasons, we continue to protect and honor their graves. As a temple deeply rooted in the community, we cherish our connections and the heartfelt memorials to ancestors shared with those who are part of our temple family. Please feel free to contact us regarding funerals or ancestor memorial services.
I am currently undergoing training to become a Buddhist monk. My life at the dormitory of our head temple, Saikyoji, is refreshing and full of new experiences. I practice chanting with my fellow trainees and enthusiastically play the wooden fish drum. Little by little, I’ve started to connect with members of our temple community. The Head Priest often gives me challenging tasks out of the blue, but I do my best every day. Gassho (with palms together in gratitude).