{{Short description|Buddhist temple in Japan}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Sengaku-ji | native_name = {{nihongo2|泉岳寺}} | image = Sengakuji 03.JPG | image_size = | alt = | caption = Sengaku-ji Hondō | map_type = Japan Tokyo city#Japan | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = Sengaku-ji | location = 11-1, Takanawa 2-chōme, Minato-ku, Tokyo | coordinates = {{coord|35.63772|139.73630|format=dms|type:landmark_region:JP|display=title,inline}} | religious_affiliation = Buddhist | rite = Sōtō Zen | deity = Shaka Nyōrai | country = Japan | functional_status = | website = {{official|1=http://www.sengakuji.or.jp/ }} | founded_by = Monnan Sōkan and Tokugawa Ieyasu | year_completed = 1612 |footnotes = {{box|background=white|align=center|wide=yes|border size=3px|border color=brown|text align=center|National Historic Site of Japan}} }} {{nihongo|'''Sengaku-ji'''|泉岳寺}} is a Buddhist temple belonging to the Sōtō school of Japanese Zen located in the Takanawa neighborhood of Minato-ku, near Sengakuji Station and Shinagawa Station, Tokyo, Japan. It was one of the three major Sōtō temples in Edo during the Tokugawa shogunate, and became famous through its connection with the Akō incident of the forty-seven Rōnin in the 18th century.
== History == Sengaku-ji was founded as a small chapel by founding ''shōgun'' Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1612 and was initially located in Sotosakura, near modern Kasumigaseki. After it was destroyed in the ''Kan'ei'' Fire of 1641, third ''shōgun'' Tokugawa Iemitsu ordered the five ''daimyō'' clans of Mori, Asano, Kutsuki, Niwa and Mizutani to rebuild the temple at its present location in Takanawa, but on a much larger scale.
As this temple became the Edo ''bodaiji'' for the Asano clan, after the ''seppuku'' Asano Takumi-no-Kami Naganori for having broken protocol and drawing a sword in the Edo Castle, his funeral and tomb were located here. In 1702, the forty-seven Rōnin led by Ōishi Kuranosuke avenged his death and assassinated Kira Kōzuke-no-suke Yoshinaka. After parading Kira's severed head through Edo, they washed it at a well at the temple and presented it on the altar in front of Asano's tomb. They then surrendered to the authorities and were subsequently ordered by the Shōgun to commit ''seppuku''. Their tombs were built at Sengaku-ji next to that of their master. This story became famous through the Kabuki epic ''Chūshingura'' and their graves became a popular site of pilgrimage. The graves of Asano Naganori and of the "47 ''Rōnin''" were designated a National Historic Site in 1922.<ref name="Bunka1">{{cite web |url=https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/401/679|title=浅野長矩墓および赤穂義士墓|language=Japanese |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |accessdate=}}</ref> Each year on 14 December, the temple holds a festival commemorating the 47 ''Rōnin''. The temple maintains a museum displaying the personal belongings of the 47 ''Rōnin'' and displays on the events of the Akō incident.{{fact|date=August 2024}}
The temple also has the graves of Asano Naganori's widow, Yozen-in (1674-1714) and his younger Asano Nagahiro (1670-1734) who was allowed by the Shogunate to re-establish the Asano clan as a ''hatamoto''. With regards to the graves of the "47 ''Rōnin''", there are actually 48 graves, as the grave of Kayano Shigezane (also known as "Sanpei") is included in their number. Kayano was one of the Asano ''ronin'', but committed suicide before the vendetta took place.{{fact|date=August 2024}}
==Gallery== <gallery> Sengakuji-MainGateExterior.jpg|Exterior view of the main gate
Sengakuji temple entrance.jpg|Main gate (seen from the inside)
Sengakuji_201904d2.jpg|Main Temple Hall
Sengakuji 003.jpg|Grave of Asano Naganori Sengakuji 47 ronin graves.jpg|47 rōnin graves Sengakuji-HeadWashingWell.jpg|Well where Kira's head was washed by the 47 Ronin before presenting it to Lord Asano's grave
Sengakuji 201904h.jpg|Museum Sengakuji Gishisai 191214d.jpg|Festival </gallery>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commonscat-inline|Sengakuji}} * [http://www.sengakuji.or.jp/ Sengaku-ji - homepage]{{in lang|ja}} *National Diet Library: [http://www.ndl.go.jp/scenery/e/data/386/index.html?type=category&p=temples_shrines photograph of Sengaku-ji (1900)]
{{Buddhism topics}}
Category:Sōtō school temples Category:Buildings and structures in Minato, Tokyo Category:Buddhist temples in Tokyo Category:Historic Sites of Japan Category:1612 establishments in Japan