Jukeiji Temple

overview

Shomyozan Jukeiji Temple.
Shomyozan Jukeiji Temple of the Honmon school of the Hokke sect of Zen Buddhism
The temple was founded in 1627 (Kan’ei 4), when Mitsutaka Utechi Sakon Shogun built the Hokke-do (Lotus Hall). In 1672, a retainer of the Ikoma clan rebuilt the hall in 1702 (Genroku 15) to pray for the repose of the soul of his wife, a cousin of the third lord of the Ikoma clan, Chikaoki ikoma, and to hold a memorial service. The name of the temple was changed to “Jukei-ji Temple” after his posthumous Buddhist name.
Jukei-ji Temple was also located on a road leading to the Chokai Mountain trail. For this reason, it is also the site of an old battlefield where Shonai soldiers came to the temple and attacked the Hachimori encampment during the Boshin War. It is said that artillery fire was directed toward the ruins of Hachimori Castle, which can be seen from the site, and one can imagine what it was like at that time.