Sojiji is a major Buddhist temple of the Soto Zen school, located in Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Together with Eiheiji Temple in Fukui Prefecture, it is one of the two principal head temples of Soto Zen Buddhism in Japan.
The temple was originally located in Monzen, Ishikawa Prefecture, but moved to its present site in Yokohama in 1911. Its mountain name is Shogakuzan, and its principal image is Shakyamuni Buddha. The temple’s crest is the Goshichi no Kiri, a paulownia design consisting of five and seven flowers.
The origins of Sojiji can be traced to Shogaku Kannon-do, a religious institution of the Shingon Risshu tradition that once stood in Kushihi Manor in Noto Province, in what is now Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
In 1321, during the Genko era, Keizan Jokin, the fourth-generation patriarch of the Soto Zen school, was invited by Joken, the resident priest of Shogaku Kannon-do, to take charge of the temple. In the same year, he renamed it Sojiji and changed its mountain name to Shogakuzan. The former Kannon-do thus began a new life as a Zen temple.
In 1322, Emperor Go-Daigo recognized the temple as an official temple under the title “the foremost place of practice for the Soto school, granted the purple robe.” This recognition established Sojiji as a head temple.
In later years, the position of chief priest was held in rotation by five subtemples: Fuzo-in, Myoko-an, Dokawa-an, Denpo-an, and Nyo-i-an. In 1615, the Tokugawa shogunate issued regulations that further established Sojiji’s position as a principal head temple alongside Eiheiji.
In 1898, a major fire caused extensive damage to Sojiji. In 1911, the temple moved to its present location in Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama, and began a new chapter in its history.
The original temple grounds in Monzen, Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, were retained as Sojiji Soin, the ancestral temple of Sojiji. The old site continues to preserve the temple’s religious tradition.
After moving to Yokohama, Sojiji also became an important part of the local community. It has been designated as one of the wide-area evacuation sites in Tsurumi Ward. In 1911, its grounds were also used as the starting point for the 10,000-meter race at the qualifying competition for the International Olympic Games.
Sojiji covers an area of approximately 500,000 square meters. Its spacious grounds contain numerous temple buildings, including the Buddha Hall and the Daisodo, or Grand Founder’s Hall.
The Buddha Hall enshrines the principal image of Shakyamuni Buddha. The Daisodo, which is dedicated to the successive patriarchs of the temple, is even larger and is one of Sojiji’s most distinctive buildings. Educational facilities, including Tsurumi University, are also located within the temple grounds.
Many of the temple’s buildings were constructed during the first half of the 20th century, after the relocation in 1911. These substantial wooden structures were built mainly from the Taisho period through the early Showa period and preserve the beauty of traditional Japanese architecture.
After the Pacific War, some buildings, including the Daisodo and the Sanmon Gate, were rebuilt using reinforced concrete. These reconstructions improved their durability and helped shape the temple complex seen by visitors today.
In 1970, the Jishoden Hall was destroyed by fire, but it was subsequently rebuilt.
In 2005, 16 buildings, including the Buddha Hall, were designated as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan, recognizing their historical value and architectural importance.
The temple grounds contain memorial monuments commemorating victims of two major railway accidents in Yokohama: the Sakuragicho accident of 1951 and the Tsurumi accident of 1963. These memorials honor those who lost their lives in the disasters.
The grounds also preserve memories of the Pacific War. During the war, the Yokohama Security Unit of the Tokyo Garrison was stationed here. In August 1945, a rebellion opposing the end of the war took place, leaving another chapter of wartime history associated with the temple.
Sanshokan, the main gate of Sojiji, is also known as Sanshujukan. Its calligraphy was created by Zen Master Ishikawa Sodo, who is regarded as one of the figures responsible for reviving the temple.
The gate’s name is associated with three pine trees in Noto that were said to resemble dragons. It is built in the Koraimon style. To the right of the main gate is the Shinto Angezusho, a facility for newly arrived visitors, while the Enmei Jizo statue is enshrined on the left.
Completed in 1969, Sojiji’s Sanmon is described in the original article as the largest reinforced-concrete temple gate in Japan.
Statues of the Nio, or Kongorikishi guardian kings, stand on either side of the gate. They are said to have been modeled on the appearance of former yokozuna wrestler Kitanoumi when he was 15 years old.
The upper level of the gate enshrines statues of Kannon Bodhisattva and Jizo Bodhisattva, together with the Sixteen Arhats and the Four Heavenly Kings.
Sojiji contains many other buildings with different functions. Sanshokaku, completed in 1990, is a reinforced-concrete building with a gabled roof. It provides facilities for training and accommodation for temple supporters and members of the congregation.
Koshakudai serves as the temple’s main reception building. The name refers to the Kuri, the kitchen and dining area of a Zen monastery, where meals for the monks are prepared.
Jihokaku, completed in 2006, functions as the temple’s general administrative office. It also contains rooms for trainee monks and a Tenzo dormitory, associated with the monk responsible for preparing meals.
Shiun-dai is the large reception hall and study room used by the temple’s chief priest and Zen masters. The name is also used as an honorific title for the chief priest.
Sojiji preserves numerous cultural properties. Among its notable artworks are the color painting on paper depicting Devadatta and the color painting on silk depicting the wife of Maeda Toshiie.
Some of the temple buildings have also been registered as Tangible Cultural Properties. Examples include Sanshokan Gate, the Buddha Hall, and the Hyakken Corridor.
The temple grounds contain the graves of many well-known figures. These include industrialist Soichiro Asano, actor Yujiro Ishihara, and professional wrestler Antonio Inoki.
Sojiji is a place where history and culture remain deeply alive. Its impressive temple complex and rich collection of cultural properties offer visitors a valuable opportunity to learn about Japanese Buddhist culture and the history of Soto Zen.