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The Gokoku-ji (lit. "Protection of the Nation Temple") in [[Tokyo]] was founded in [[1682]] as a private temple for [[Keishoin|Keishôin]], the mother of Shogun [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]].

The Gokoku-ji (lit. "Protection of the Nation Temple") in [[Tokyo]] was founded in [[1682]] as a private temple for [[Keishoin|Keishôin]], the mother of Shogun [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]].

The temple contains a [[Toshogu|Tôshôgû]], a [[Shinto]] shrine dedicated to the spirit of [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], erected within the grounds in [[1691]]. Six years later, the main hall of the temple was rebuilt, and the temple was reestablished as a public temple, no longer a private space. Several buildings on the grounds, including the [[1697]] ''Hondô'' and the [[Muromachi period]] ''Gekkôden'', have been designated [[Important Cultural Properties]].

The temple contains a [[Toshogu|Tôshôgû]], a [[Shinto]] shrine dedicated to the spirit of [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], erected within the grounds in [[1691]]. Six years later, the main hall of the temple was rebuilt, and the temple was reestablished as a public temple, no longer a private space. Several buildings on the grounds, including the [[1697]] ''Hondô'' and the [[Muromachi period]] ''Gekkôden'', have been designated [[Important Cultural Properties]]. The [[Yakushi]] Hall (''Yakushi-dô''), also built in 1691, includes ''[http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/k/katoumado.htm katômado]'' windows, and other elements of [[Zen]] architecture, and remains unchanged from its original design, serving as an excellent example of [[Genroku]] period architecture.

The temple is dedicated to Daigensui Myôô, a deity associated with the protection of the realm, and in particular the defeat or destruction of enemies of the state. Daigensui is also enshrined in at least one temple in [[Yamashiro province]], serving as protector of the Imperial capital of [[Kyoto]]; here, in [[Edo]], he was chosen as a guardian deity to protect the [[Tokugawa shogunate]].

The temple is dedicated to Daigensui Myôô, a deity associated with the protection of the realm, and in particular the defeat or destruction of enemies of the state. Daigensui is also enshrined in at least one temple in [[Yamashiro province]], serving as protector of the Imperial capital of [[Kyoto]]; here, in [[Edo]], he was chosen as a guardian deity to protect the [[Tokugawa shogunate]].

==References==

==References==

*Anne Walthall, "Hiding the shoguns: Secrecy and the nature of political authority in Tokugawa Japan," in Bernard Scheid and Mark Teeuwen (eds.) ''The Culture of Secrecy in Japanese Religion'', Routledge (2006), 347-348.

*Anne Walthall, "Hiding the shoguns: Secrecy and the nature of political authority in Tokugawa Japan," in Bernard Scheid and Mark Teeuwen (eds.) ''The Culture of Secrecy in Japanese Religion'', Routledge (2006), 347-348.

*Pamphlets available on-site.

*Plaques and Pamphlets available on-site.

==External Links==

==External Links==