- Sōfuku-ji (Gifu)
Infobox Buddhist temple
name = Sōfuku-ji 崇福寺
img_size =
img_capt = Entrance to Sōfuku-ji
landscape =
denomination = Rinzai
founded = 1390
closed =
founder = Ryōtan Sōei
teacher =
director =
roshi =
abbot =
priest =
rinpoche =
reverend =
address = 2403-1 Nagara Fukumitsu
Gifu,Gifu Prefecture
country = flagicon|Japan Japan
phone = (058) 231-2613
website = [http://www.ccn.aitai.ne.jp/~soufuku/ Sōfuku-ji homepage] ja iconnihongo|Sōfuku-ji|崇福寺 is a
Buddhist temple located in Gifu,Gifu Prefecture ,Japan . The temple has strong ties to bothSaitō Dōsan andOda Nobunaga . [http://www.kankou-gifu.jp/myalbum+photo.lid+000878.htm Gifu Sightseeing Guide: Sōfuku-ji] . ja icon Gifu Prefecture Tourist Federation. AccessJune 10 ,2008 .] Gifu's Sōfuku-ji is famed throughout Japan for both the number of monks it produces and for it's "Blood Ceiling." "Gifu City Walking Map". Gifu Lively City Public Corporation, 2007.] Shortly after its founding, it was also known as Kōsai-ji (弘済寺), but that name is no longer used. It is also one of theMino Thirty-three Kannon .History
Sōfuku-ji was originally built during the
Kamakura period . However, because it suffered from much deterioration,Saitō Toshimasa moved and rebuilt the temple in1511 . [http://www.ccn.aitai.ne.jp/~soufuku/ Sōfuku-ji] . Sōfuku-ji. Accessed September 21, 2007.] In1517 , he gave it its current name. According to other stories, though, it was originally built in1469 , byToki Shigeyori andSaitō Nagahiro , and it was officially opened in1493 .When Oda Nobunaga moved into Gifu in
1567 , he claimed Sōfuku-ji as his family temple. [http://www.gifucvb.or.jp/en/kankou/meisyo/soufukuji.shtml Sofuku-ji] . Gifu City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Accessed September 21, 2007.] After Nobunaga and his son, Nobutada, died during theIncident at Honnō-ji in1582 , many of their personal treasures were moved to the temple.In
1600 , whenOda Hidenobu was responding toIshida Mitsunari 's call for assistance,Fukushima Masanori andIkeda Terumasa sieged the castle and destroyed it during theBattle of Gifu Castle . Hidenobu's vassals died during this siege and, after the destruction of the castle, the blood-stained floor of the castles main tower was used to create the new "Blood Ceiling" in the temple.During the
Edo period , the temple received much support from the government and, as a result, prospered. It also became a prayer place for theArisugawa-no-miya . Also,Tokugawa Iemitsu supported this temple immensely because his wet nurse as a child,Lady Kasuga , who was the daughter ofSaitō Toshimitsu , a relative of Dōsan.References
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