Sogen-ji

The stone gates of Sôgenji.

• Japanese: 崇元寺 (Sougen-ji)

Sôgen-ji was a Buddhist temple in Tomari, Okinawa, originally constructed in the early half of the reign of King Shô Shin (r. 1477-1526). All that survives of the temple today are its thick, heavy stone gates, which were originally constructed during an expansion of the temple in 1496.

At that same time in 1496, stelae were erected in honor of all the kings of Ryûkyû. In 1527, a pair of stelae were erected at the gates declaring that all who enter, even the reigning king himself, were expected to dismount before passing through the gates.

References

• Kerr, George. Okinawa: The History of an Island People. Revised Edition. Tuttle Publishing, 2000. pp109ff.