Kofukuji was the first Obaku Zen temple in Japan. It began around 1620 when Chinese merchants began to arrive in Nagasaki and a Chinese priest established a shrine to pray for safety during the sea voyage.
The temple was built during a time when Christianity was outlawed, so Chinese residents built Buddhist temples to confirm their allegiance to Buddhism.
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| Calligraphy on the main gate meaning "First ascent to the treasured realm" |
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| Shokoro (belfry) was rebuilt in 1691 after a fire |
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| Main hall, originally constructed in 1632 (rebuilt in 1883), in a purely Chinese style |
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| Great Learning Gate |
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| Temple refectory |
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| Detail from main hall |
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| Close up of fish drum, dating from the Ming Dyansty |
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| The fish drums would signal the monks to meals |
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| A bronze bell used to hang in the belfry, now a great drum remains. |
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| Screens in a shed off the garden |
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| Coffin from shed off garden. Many had theirs built while they were still living. |
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| Garden pond |
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| Mini shrine in garden |
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| Water lilies |
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| Turtle! |
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| Ema with wishes for a couple's love to endure written in French |
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| More building detail |
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