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Zôjô-ji is a [[Jodo-shu|Jôdo-shû]] Buddhist temple located in the Shiba neighborhood of [[Tokyo]]; along with [[Kan'ei-ji]], it was one of two [[Tokugawa clan]] family temples in the Tokugawa shogunal capital of [[Edo]]. Six [[Tokugawa shogunate|Tokugawa shoguns]] are buried on the temple grounds; the graves of five more can be found at Kan'ei-ji.
Zôjô-ji is a [[Jodo-shu|Jôdo-shû]] Buddhist temple located in the Shiba neighborhood of [[Tokyo]]; along with [[Kan'ei-ji]], it was one of two [[Tokugawa clan]] family temples in the Tokugawa shogunal capital of [[Edo]]. Six [[Tokugawa shogunate|Tokugawa shoguns]] are buried on the temple grounds; the graves of five more can be found at Kan'ei-ji.
Zôjô-ji was made a family mortuary temple of the Tokugawa clan in [[1598]]. [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], already planning out his (future) capital, thought the location ideal for a variety of reasons, including an association of Zôjô-ji with the south, providing a certain symmetry to [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô]] in the north. An additional worship hall was completed in [[1605]], and the entire complex was renovated or refurbished in [[1634]].
Zôjô-ji was made a family mortuary temple of the Tokugawa clan in [[1598]]. [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], already planning out his (future) capital, thought the location ideal for a variety of reasons, including its position to the south of [[Edo castle]], protecting the city spiritually from that direction, and providing a certain symmetry to [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô]] in the north. An additional worship hall was completed in [[1605]], and the entire complex was renovated or refurbished in [[1634]].
The shogunal graves at Zôjô-ji were relocated somewhat, within the grounds, in 1958; in the process, much was learned about shogunal funerary practices. Though the graves were off-limits to the public for many years, beginning in 2008, the shogunal cemetery has been opened to the public on set days of the year.
The shogunal graves at Zôjô-ji were relocated somewhat, within the grounds, in 1958; in the process, much was learned about shogunal funerary practices. Though the graves were off-limits to the public for many years, beginning in 2008, the shogunal cemetery has been opened to the public on set days of the year.
==Shogunal graves==
The grave of Shogun [[Tokugawa Ienobu]] is among the best preserved, and provides an indication of how most of the shoguns were likely buried. His body, dressed in the formal court robes of a ''[[naidaijin]]'' and with his hair in a topknot, was embalmed and laid to rest in two wooden coffins, which were in turn placed within a copper coffin, within a stone chamber. A mace was left in his hands, and a sword at his side. Ash and lime were packed into the chamber, and into the coffins.
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