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The temple was established in [[1394]] when [[Shimazu Motohisa]] invited the [[Zen]] priest [[Sekioku Shinryo|Sekioku Shinryô]] to Kagoshima to establish a ''bodaiji'' for the Shimazu clan. It later became one of the three largest head temples for monk registrars (僧録, ''sôroku'') in the country, overseeing all the Buddhist monks in southern Kyushu, as well as a ''chokuganjo'', a prayer hall that could be used by the [[Emperor]]. Fukushô-ji branch temples were established in numerous locations across Kyushu, Shikoku, and the [[Chugoku region|Chûgoku region]]. In the 15th century, Fukushô-ji was the site of a notable meeting between [[Francis Xavier]] and the Buddhist monk [[Ninshitsu]], in which they discussed the possibility of Christian missionary activity in Kagoshima.

The temple was established in [[1394]] when [[Shimazu Motohisa]] invited the [[Zen]] priest [[Sekioku Shinryo|Sekioku Shinryô]] to Kagoshima to establish a ''bodaiji'' for the Shimazu clan. It later became one of the three largest head temples for monk registrars (僧録, ''sôroku'') in the country, overseeing all the Buddhist monks in southern Kyushu, as well as a ''chokuganjo'', a prayer hall that could be used by the [[Emperor]]. Fukushô-ji branch temples were established in numerous locations across Kyushu, Shikoku, and the [[Chugoku region|Chûgoku region]]. In the 15th century, Fukushô-ji was the site of a notable meeting between [[Francis Xavier]] and the Buddhist monk [[Ninshitsu]], in which they discussed the possibility of Christian missionary activity in Kagoshima.

Fukushô-ji remained the chief Shimazu family temple throughout the Edo period, with each successive head of the family being buried there. [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryukyuan]] scholar-officials on missions to Japan regularly paid formal visits to the temple.

Fukushô-ji remained the chief Shimazu family temple throughout the Edo period, with each successive head of the family being buried there. [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryukyuan]] scholar-officials on missions to Japan regularly paid formal visits to the temple, as well as to the Shimazu temples of [[Nansen-in]] and [[Jokomyo-ji (Kagoshima)|Jôkômyô-ji]].<ref>Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Kei, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," ''Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô'' 31 (2006), 237.</ref>

Fukushô-ji was abolished in [[1869]], as part of the ''[[haibutsu kishaku]]'' anti-Buddhist campaigns of the early [[Meiji period]]. The following year, some 375 [[Christians]] fleeing persecution by the [[Meiji government]] in [[Nagasaki]] came to Kagoshima seeking refuge, and took up residence on the former site of the temple. They are said to have been treated well there, and most returned to Nagasaki by [[1873]]; however, 53 Christians who died while in Kagoshima were buried at a Christian cemetery on a hill just above the samurai cemetery, created for that purpose in [[1905]] by Father [[Emile Raguet]].

Fukushô-ji was abolished in [[1869]], as part of the ''[[haibutsu kishaku]]'' anti-Buddhist campaigns of the early [[Meiji period]]. The following year, some 375 [[Christians]] fleeing persecution by the [[Meiji government]] in [[Nagasaki]] came to Kagoshima seeking refuge, and took up residence on the former site of the temple. They are said to have been treated well there, and most returned to Nagasaki by [[1873]]; however, 53 Christians who died while in Kagoshima were buried at a Christian cemetery on a hill just above the samurai cemetery, created for that purpose in [[1905]] by Father [[Emile Raguet]].