page_title: Hōkai-ji (Kamakura)
section_title: Points of interest
hierarchical_section_title: Hōkai-ji (Kamakura) / Points of interest
caption_attribution_description: English: The Taishi-dō at Hōkai-ji, Kamakura
context_page_description: Kinryūzan Shakuman-in Endon Hōkai-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Often called Hagidera, or "bush-clover temple", because those flowers are numerous in its garden, its existence is directly linked to a famous tragedy that on July 4, 1333 wiped out almost the entire Hōjō clan, ruler of Japan for 135 years. The temple was founded expressly to enshrine the souls of the 870 members of the clan who, in accordance with the samurai code of honor, committed suicide on that day at their family temple of Tōshō-ji to escape defeat. Together with ancient Sugimoto-dera, Hōkai-ji is the only temple of the Tendai denomination in Kamakura. Formerly a branch temple of the great Kan'ei-ji, after its destruction it became a branch of Enryaku-ji.
context_section_description: The temple's Hon-dō is open to the public and contains many valuable objects. Among the others, it houses Hōkai-ji's main object of worship, a seated statue of Jizō Bosatsu carved in wood around 1365 by artist Sanjō Hōin Ken'en. The statue is a national Important Cultural Asset. On the two sides stand the statues of gods Bonten (Brahma) and Taishakuten (Indra), both made during the Nanboku-chō period and both prefectural Important Cultural Properties. There are also the statues of the Ten Deva Kings, of Enma, lord of the Beyond, and a sitting statue of the temple's founder Enkan. Finally, the Main Hall contains another national Important Cultural Property, a statue of Shokei, the second head priest of the temple, made in 1372.
  To the right of the Main Hall stands the Kankiten-dō, a small structure enshrining Kangiten (or Kankiten) (歓喜天, god of delight), who is the Buddhist version of god Ganesh. The 152 cm statue inside the building, representing two elephant-headed  human beings (a male and a female) embracing, represents him. Because of the statue's sexual connotations, the building however is, like most halls dedicated to this deity, closed to the public.
  The shrine and the torii nearby constitute Tokusō Daigongen (得宗大権現, Tokusō's shrine), founded to pacify the souls of the Hōjō. The building was rebuilt in 1992 and contains a statue of Hōjō Takatoki, the last regent and, following protocol, the last Hōjō to kill himself.
  Next to the entrance stands the Taishi-dō (太子堂, Prince's Hall) dedicated to Prince Shotoku, who adopted Buddhism as the official religion of Japan. On the doors is visible the chrysanthemum, symbol of the Imperial Household. Every year on January 22, carpenters, plasterers and blacksmiths gather together for the memorial service held in his honor. The prince was directly responsible for the construction of many temples, Hōryū-ji among the others.
caption: The Taishi-dō
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