Provincial temple

Mutsu Kokubunji —Yakushido

Kokubun-ji (国分寺) were Buddhist temples established in each of the provinces of Japan by Emperor Shōmu during the Nara period (710 – 794).^[1] Shōmu (701 – 756?) decreed both a kokubun-ji for monks and a kokubunni-ji (国分尼寺) for nuns to be established in each province. Tōdai-ji, the provincial temple of Yamato Province, served as the head of all kokubun-ji, and Hokke-ji held that duty for the kokubunni-ji. The words kokubun-ji and kokubunni-ji gave rise to many place names still in use today, including:

• Kokubunji, Kagawa
• Kokubunji, Tokyo
• Kokubunji, Tochigi

See also

• Glossary of Japanese Buddhism
• Ichinomiya
• Fuchū

References

1. "Kokubunji". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-04.