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[[Image:Ankokuzenji.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The main gate of Ankokuzen-ji, made of Okinawan limestone, in a distinctively Okinawan architectural style.]]

[[Image:Ankokuzenji.jpg|right|thumb|400px|The main gate of Ankokuzen-ji, made of Okinawan limestone, in a distinctively Okinawan architectural style.]]

*''Other Names'': 太平山 ''(Taiheizan)''

*''Other Names'': 太平山 ''(Taiheizan)''

*''Japanese'': 安国禅寺 ''(Ankokuzenji)''

*''Japanese'': 安国禅寺 ''(Ankokuzenji)''

Ankokuzen-ji, or Ankoku-ji, is a [[Rinzai]] [[Zen]] temple located near [[Shuri Castle]] in [[Shuri]], [[Okinawa]].

Ankokuzen-ji, or Ankoku-ji, is a [[Rinzai]] [[Zen]] temple located near [[Shuri Castle]] in [[Shuri]], [[Okinawa]].

It is believed to have been founded during the reign of King [[Sho Taikyu|Shô Taikyû]], or by his son, King [[Sho Toku|Shô Toku]], for the purpose of Shô Taikyû's memorial service.

It is believed to have been founded during the reign of King [[Sho Taikyu|Shô Taikyû]], or by his son, King [[Sho Toku|Shô Toku]], for the purpose of Shô Taikyû's memorial service. The first abbot of temple was Xīshān Zhōuyōng, a [[Zen|Chan]] Buddhist master from [[Zhejiang province]]. The temple later became a branch temple of [[Tenkai-ji]].

The temple was originally located on the banks of the Shuri Kubagawa, but was moved to its current location during the reign of King [[Sho Tei|Shô Tei]].

The temple was originally located on the banks of the Shuri Kubagawa, but was moved to its current location in [[1674]] during the reign of King [[Sho Tei|Shô Tei]]. It was destroyed in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa, but has since been rebuilt.

One of the temple's bells was originally cast in [[1456]], for the temple [[Tenryu-ji (Okinawa)|Tenryû-ji]], founded in that year by [[Kaiin]]<!--芥隠-->. The temple was later abandoned, and the bell moved to [[Tenno-ji (Okinawa)|Tennô-ji]], then to Ankokuzen-ji. In 1944, the bell was donated to the war effort, to be melted down and used to produce war materiel; however, it was discovered relatively undamaged in 1962 in [[Tottori prefecture]], and was returned to Okinawa.<ref>Gallery labels at Okinawa Prefectural Museum, August 2013.</ref>

One of the temple's bells was originally cast in [[1456]], for the temple [[Tenryu-ji (Okinawa)|Tenryû-ji]], founded in that year by [[Kaiin]]<!--芥隠-->. The temple was later abandoned, and the bell moved to [[Tenno-ji (Okinawa)|Tennô-ji]], then to Ankokuzen-ji. In 1944, the bell was donated to the war effort, to be melted down and used to produce war materiel; however, it was discovered relatively undamaged in 1962 in [[Tottori prefecture]], and was returned to Okinawa.<ref>Gallery labels at Okinawa Prefectural Museum, August 2013.</ref>

==References==

==References==

*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-40171-storytopic-121.html Ankokuji]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Dictionary"). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 19 December 2009.

*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-40171-storytopic-121.html Ankokuji]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Dictionary"). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 19 December 2009.

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