From Its Foundation to Destruction Renge-in Tanjō-ji

five-ring stupas, municipal cultural properties of tamana



an excavated statuette

in middle ages, temple called jōkō-ji stood on site of present main temple of renge-in tanjō-ji. higo chronicle written in edo period states taira no shigemori ordered construction of jōkō-ji along 2 five-ring stupas (五輪塔), great south gate, , nunnery named myōshō-ji (妙性寺). since shigemori, eldest son of taira no kiyomori, born in 1138 , died in 1179, jōkō-ji seems have been built during last decades of heian period. however, statement in higo chronicle cannot supported surviving contemporary documents.

the oldest document mentions jōkō-ji tōmyō-ji document written in 1298 in kamakura period, in stated jōkō-ji of higo province privately built shramana ekū. although cannot determine jōkō-ji of higo province mentioned there indeed jōkō-ji renge-in of taira no shigemori mentioned in higo chronicle or former succeeded latter, safe assume jōkō-ji built either @ end of heian period or beginning of kamakura period.

an excavation in 1960s @ site of present main hall revealed several buddhist instruments kamakura period. therefore, conjectured main hall of jōkō-ji once stood there or near site. these objects, designated municipal cultural properties of tamana in 2008, on exhibit @ renge-in tanjō-ji.

according old documents of saidai-ji kamakura period , muromachi period, unquestionable jōkō-ji continued exist 1290 @ least 1478. since temple no longer existed in edo period, seems reasonable suppose destroyed during wars of sengoku period. however, no document far has been discovered corroborate conjecture.