Chokenji - Takahashi

Sōtō school. Established in 1518 (Yongsei 15). The statue of the main goddess Seishinyo Bosatsu is an important cultural property designated by Okayama Prefecture.

It is a Buddhist temple of the Soto sect in the Fuka district in the mountains of Bitchu-cho, Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture. According to the explanation board of the ancient temple, which is said to have been built in 1518 by the lord of the iris mountain castle, Keisada Hirakawa, there is a secret Buddha wooden Kannon Bodhisattva statue, Enmei Jizo, and Amitabha triad Kakebotoke, which are opened every 33 years. The cathedral is new because it was relocated and rebuilt in 1994.

This mountain is said to have been opened by the monk Sotan in 1518. Kawakami-gun magazine and Bichu-cho history both describe this age, but the assumption of this age is that of the golden bronze Amida Sanson Kakebotoke that was hung in the Amida-do. The ink book on the back of the book says, "Hakusetsu Gosei-no-ji, June 18th, 18th year of Eisho, Keihaku Yoshinichi, Gohozen, Keisada, the applicant", which is believed to be derived from this. Therefore, the opening of this temple is also considered to be Hirakawa Nagato Mamoru Keisada, and the history of Bichumachi is also recorded in the chronological table from this standpoint. The statue of the Holy Kanzeon Bodhisattva, the principal idol, is a magnificent Buddha Fujiwara in the late Heian period (in the latest survey, in the middle of the Heian period). Made of one tree. The carvings of both sides and heavenly robes are deep, and as a secret Buddha that can only be opened in the 33rd year, it was completely unknown to the world what time the Buddha statue was made. According to the records, Tenmei 8 (1788), Bunsei 3 (1820), Kaei 5 (1852), Meiji 17 (1884), Taisho 7 (1918), Showa 8 (1933), Showa 40. The book was opened in 1967, 1995, and 2017. The principal image was designated as a cultural property designated by Okayama Prefecture on March 15, 1997, and was preserved and repaired in the two years of 2006 and 27 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of its founding. The book was opened in 2009 for the first time in 22 years since 1995. Since it was a free public release of cultural properties designated by the prefecture, it was reported as news on TV and radio, and enthusiastic worshipers gathered from all over the country to worship the secret Buddha of Kaichō at a glance. The next opening of the book is scheduled for 250 years. The above-mentioned gold and bronze Amitabha triad was designated as an important cultural property designated by Okayama Prefecture on March 15, 2009.