Keifuku-ji
- Established: 1369
- Other Names: 瑞松山 (Zuishô-san)
- Japanese: 景福寺 (Keifuku-ji)
Keifuku-ji is a Sôtô Zen Buddhist temple in Himeji City. Founded in 1369, it is the site of the graves of a number of Edo period members of the Sakai clan.
Though originally founded at Mutsuse (Settsu province), it was later relocated to Harima-chô in the Tenshô era (1573-1592). Another Keifuku-ji was then established in 1600 just below Himeji castle. In 1749, lord of Himeji Matsudaira Tomonori was moved to Maebashi han, and removed a local temple with him; Sakai Tadazumi then became lord of Himeji, and in 1754 relocated the Keifuku-ji to its current location, making it a bodaiji (family temple) of the Sakai clan.
The temple is home to a number of Kamakura period Buddhist sculptures and a copy of a 1685 Korean bell.
In 1868, forces from Okayama han encamped at the temple while besieging the castle, firing upon the castle until it eventually capitulated. A middle school was established on the grounds in 1878, and during World War I, several of the temple buildings were taken over by the Imperial Japanese Army for use as a POW camp.
Partial List of Burials
- Enhime 婉 - wife of Sakai Tadashige (1826-1867)
- En-hime 鋋 - eldest daughter of Sakai Tadashige and Enhime (b. 1862/9/27 - d. 1863/6/27)
- Kiso-hime 喜曽 - daughter of Sakai Tadanori and Kiyo-hime; wife of Sakai Tadatomi (1834-1870)
- Kiyo-hime 喜代 - wife of Sakai Tadanori; daughter of Tokugawa Ienari (1818-1868)
- Sakai Makinosuke 駉之助 - 10th son of Sakai Tadazumi (b. 1756 - d. 1761)
- Sho-hime 紓 - third daughter of Sakai Tadanori; adopted daughter of Sakai Tadatsura (b. 1831/8/15 - d. 1831/11/27)
- Tsuchi-hime 鎚 - second daughter of Sakai Tadanori; adopted daughter of Sakai Tadatsura (b. 1830/7/9 - d. 1832/11/8)
- Yoso-hime 与曾 - 6th daughter of Sakai Tadazumi (b. 1750/11/15 - d. 1750/12/5)
- Ninth daughter of Sakai Tadazumi (b. 1754/5/23 - 5/25)
References
- Plaques on-site at Keifuku-ji.[1]
