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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]].
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 main gate of the temple, known today as Shiba Daimon ("Shiba Great Gate"), gives its name to the nearby Daimon subway station. Donated to the temple by the City of Tokyo in the Meiji period, it was replaced with the current concrete version in 1937, and stands a short distance away from the temple grounds. The large gate which actually functions as the entrance into the temple grounds is known as the Sangedatsumon, and has been designated an [[Important Cultural Property]].<ref>Takatsu Takashi 高津孝, "Machi aruki Ryûkyûjin gyôretsu to Edo no machi" 「街歩き 琉球人行列と江戸の町」. ''Nihon kinsei seikatsu ehiki: Ryûkyûjin gyôretsu to Edo hen'' 日本近世生活絵引：琉球人行列と江戸編、Research Center for Nonwritten Cultural Materials, Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture, Kanagawa University 神奈川大学日本常民文化研究所非文字資料研究センター (2020), 204.</ref>
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.