Shohoji

The temple's origins are said to trace back to a hermitage called Kasuga Zenbo, where the monk Chii retired in 754 CE (Tenpyo Shoho 6). Later, when Saicho established Ohara-ji as a protective temple for the Nagaoka-kyo capital, this site was incorporated as a sub-temple (tozu) and formalized as a temple. During the Koun era (810–824 CE), Kukai entered the temple and carved the principal image of the Three-Faced Thousand-Handed Kannon. Although the temple was destroyed by fire during the Onin War, it was renamed Shohoji and rebuilt in 1615 CE (Genna 1). Since then, it has served as a place of prayer for successive generations of the Tokugawa family.