The History of Senkōji Temple
Foundation and Conversion to Sōtō Zen Buddhism
The temple originally began as a prayer temple called Kashōan. It stood northwest of Mount Bainyūdō and southeast of Bainyū Mountain Castle. Tokuyori, the 26th head of the Miyake family of Okada Village and a castle deputy serving Takahide Ueno, lord of Tsuneyama Castle in Bizen Province, relocated the temple to Sakura in present-day Okada Village and converted it to the Sōtō Zen school of Buddhism.
The temple was founded in 1566, during the Eiroku era, and was initially called Zenkōji.
Reconstruction and Renaming
In 1887, a fire destroyed the main hall and the priests’ living quarters. The temple was subsequently rebuilt and renamed Senkōji. The reconstructed main hall underwent further restoration in 2002, marking the 750th anniversary memorial observance of Zen master Dōgen, the founder of the Sōtō school.
The Effects of the Fire and the Temple’s Legacy
The 1887 fire destroyed many historical records, including documents that could have clarified the original construction dates of the temple buildings. Nevertheless, the temple has continued to be protected and maintained by the local community.
When Nagasada Itō, the fourth lord of Okada Domain, moved his domain residence to Okada Village, he enshrined Bishamonten, a Buddhist deity associated with protection and good fortune. The hall dedicated to this deity was later relocated to the grounds of Senkōji, but it too was destroyed in the 1887 fire.
The Temple Grounds and Buildings
The Main Hall and Other Features
The main hall was rebuilt and later restored, taking its present form following the work carried out in 2002. The grounds also feature a zazen meditation hall, a temple gate, and statues of the Seven Lucky Gods. These features create a calm atmosphere that reflects the traditions of Sōtō Zen Buddhism.
Visitors can take a quiet walk around the grounds, appreciate the temple’s history, and experience the peaceful surroundings of this long-established place of worship.
Access to Senkōji Temple
The temple can be reached on foot from several nearby railway stations. It is approximately a 33-minute walk from Kiyone Station on the JR West Hakubi Line, about 26 minutes from Kawabejuku Station on the Ibara Railway, and around 38 minutes from Kibinomakibi Station, also on the Ibara Railway.
Senkōji Temple and Seishi Yokomizo’s Gokumon Island
The Temple as a Model for the Mystery Novel
Senkōji is closely associated with Gokumon Island, a celebrated mystery novel by Seishi Yokomizo. Toward the end of World War II, Yokomizo evacuated to this area and lived here for more than three years. The temple in the novel was modeled on the real Senkōji, and its name and mountain title, Iōzan, were also drawn from the actual temple.
A plum tree in the temple grounds is said to have inspired the tree in the story from which the character Hanako is found hanging upside down. The tree remains on the grounds today, making the temple a particularly interesting destination for readers familiar with Yokomizo’s work.
Yokomizo’s Connection with the Temple
In the afterword to Gokumon Island, Yokomizo acknowledged the guidance he received from Atsusen Suenaga, the temple’s head priest, writing that much of his knowledge of Sōtō Zen came from the priest’s instruction. This testimony illustrates the close relationship between the author and Senkōji, and helps explain the temple’s importance in the novel’s background.
The “Team Sen no Hikari” Project
Rebuilding Community After the July 2018 Heavy Rains
In July 2018, torrential rain caused severe damage across Mabi Town, where Senkōji is located. In response to the disaster, a community project called “Team Sen no Hikari” was launched using the temple’s zazen hall as its base.
The project was established under the leadership of Masami Nagō, a grandchild of the temple’s former head priest, Atsusen Suenaga. Its guiding message is “A Thousand Lights for Mabi: Thoughts, Wishes, and Prayers,” reflecting a commitment to remembrance, recovery, and support for the local community.
Memorial Illuminations and Community Support
As part of the project, the temple holds annual illuminations for remembrance and prayer on July 6 and 7. Funding is raised through crowdfunding, and the event has been held every year since 2019.
The zazen hall also hosts monthly consultation sessions, where clinical psychologists provide emotional support and administrative scriveners offer advice on government procedures. These activities help the temple serve as a place of comfort and practical assistance for people affected by the disaster.
Special Items Inspired by Gokumon Island
One of the project’s special crowdfunding rewards is a set featuring a paperback edition of Gokumon Island with a Senkōji temple seal, together with a themed bar of soap. The soap contains bamboo charcoal, a reference to Mabi’s local bamboo, and is scented with plum to evoke the temple’s famous plum tree. The book includes a handwritten temple seal by the current head priest.
A Place Where Faith, Literature, and Community Meet
Senkōji Temple offers more than a glimpse into the history of Japanese Zen Buddhism. Its connection with Seishi Yokomizo’s mystery novel, the surviving plum tree associated with the story, and its community activities following the 2018 disaster give the temple a distinctive place in the cultural life of Mabi Town.
Visitors can explore the peaceful temple grounds, discover the real-world inspiration behind a famous work of Japanese mystery fiction, and learn how a historic place of worship continues to support its community today.