Shokoku-Ji Temple was established by the third Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, Yoshimitsu Ashikaga. Thereafter, Shokoku-Ji Temple held deep connections with the successive Ashikaga Shogunate, and the Shogunate’s relics were passed down.
During the turbulent transition period from the medieval to the early modern period, Shokoku-Ji Temple was burnt down and rebuilt numerous times throughout its history. The temple’s reconstruction was impossible without the efforts of the powerful people of the time. Also, because temple estates and chief priests were established through documents issued by samurai governments, many of the temple treasures that have been passed down include Bakufu (shogunate) issued documents.
Furthermore, when the Tokugawa Shogunate inspected Shokoku-Ji temple, the temple presented solemn temple paintings and temple treasures deriving from the Ashikaga Shogunate. This exhibition will introduce items in the catalog, including Chinese paintings and calligraphy by high priests, owned by the Tokugawa family and other samurai families.
This exhibition follows the tracks of interactions between Shokoku-Ji Temple and the samurai government through items that have been passed down to the temple and its sub-temples, including portraits, calligraphy, Chinese paintings, and ancient documents.

Highlights 1Ashikaga Shogunate’s Temple

After the death of Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, successive Ashikaga Shoguns built their own mortuary tablets in the Shokoku-Ji Temple and had sub-temples named after themselves. For example, Yoshimitsu’s sub-temple was Rokuon-in (abolished), Yoshinori’s sub-temple was Fuko-in, and Yoshimasa’s sub-temple was Jisho-in. Related relics have been passed down to each sub-temple (grave). Also, although the Rokuon-in sub-temple was abolished, the statute of Yoshimitsu Ashikaga has been passed down from Rokuon-in. The sub-temple Erin-in, bearing the posthumous name of the tenth shogun Ashikaga Yoshitane, was abandoned, and the Erin branch sub-temple Reikoken merged with Hoko-ji, where this portrait of Yoshitane was passed down.This exhibition has gathered the portraits of the Ashikaga Shogunate that have been passed down to the Shokoku-Ji Temple for visitors to see.

Yoshimasa Ashikaga Statue,
single-width, Muromachi Period-
owned by Jisho-in, Period 1

Highlights 2List of Utensils from the Edo Period

Many times during the Edo Period, the Shokoku-Ji Temple notified the Shogunate regarding the treasures held by the temple. This exhibition shows the catalog of items presented at the Shoshidai inspection in 1729 and 1799. Visitors can also see the currently available temple treasures in the catalog. The catalog lists notable treasures passed down to the temple, which are currently designated as National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. Please see these notable treasures, such as those imported from that Shokoku-Ji Temple has, as they continue to be enchanting even in modern times.

Important Cultural Property: Mineirakuteichokusho, single-width, Ming Dynasty, owned by Shokoku-Ji Temple, Period 1

*The spread of the coronavirus may cancel an event.
See the website for the latest status.