Tōfuku-ji

The Tofuku -ji (东 福寺Japanese ) is a Zen temple in the Higashiyama district of the city of Kyoto, Japan. A former abbot was KEIDO Fukushima.

Originally Tofuku -ji was built in 1236 by Kujo Michiie modeled after the magnificent temples in Nara. The name Tofuku -ji is derived from the Tō of Todai -ji and from the Kōfuku Fuku -ji. After devastating fires in the 14th century, which had the most original buildings destroyed, the temple was rebuilt in the 15th century. The last major fire in 1881 again made reconstruction measures necessary, which were completed in 1934.

Throughout its history, the Tofuku -ji had some politically important patrons, including Ashikaga Yoshimochi, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

The Sammon, a 22 -meter-high gatehouse of the temple, is considered the oldest main gate of the Zen tradition in Japan and in 1952 was declared a national cultural heritage. The restoration measures from 1969 to 1978 cost 2.5 million U.S. dollars.