History and Outline of Kokutai-ji
About the founding of Kokutaiji
Kokuitaiji is one of the few Rinzai Zen temples in the Hokuriku region and the Head temple of the Kokutai school of Rinzai Zen Buddhism.
The founder, Zen Master Jiun Myōi (1274-1345), was attracted by the ethereal landscape of Mt.Futagami when he was on his pilgrimage and devoted himself to Zazen in a hermitage in the mountain.
He happened to pass by and was invited by Zen Master Kohō Kakumyō (founder of Unjyu-ji Temple in Shimane Prefecture, also known as Sankō-Kokushi) to visit Zen Master Muhon Kakushin (Dharma Lamp Master) at Saihō-ji Temple (now Kōkoku-ji Temple) in Yura of Wakayama Prefecture, where he was greatly enlightened. However, he soon returned to Mt.Futagami and devoted himself to post-enlightenment ascetic practice.
In 1304, he founded the temple Tōshō-ji, which was later renamed Machōzan-tōshō-ji.
In 1327, He visited the palace and preached a Buddhist memorial service to Emperor Godaigo, and was given the title "Seisen Zenji" (Zen Master Seisen).
The following year, the temple was given the imperial inscription "Gokoku Machō Kyozan Kokutai Mannen Zenji" and became an imperial ordinance temple.
On June 3, 1345, The will verse of "There is a moon in the sky and a spring on the earth" was recited, He passed away at the age of 72. He received the posthumous title of "Enichi Shōkō Kokushi" from Emperor Komyo of the Northern Dynasty.The name of his pagoda was "Shōmyaku" and his chamber was called "Daen(Great Circle)".
Later, it was moved to its present location in 1585. Major Restoration in the Teikyō Period In the Edo period (1603-1868), the present nave was built, and the then Shogun Tsunayoshi designated Kokutaiji as the "Head temple of the Hottō sect".
Rebuilding in during the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912), the temple suffered in the aftermath of the movement to abolish Buddhism, but Zen masters Essō and Setsumon, with the help of Tesshū Yamaoka, succeeded in restoring the temple.
The young Kitaro Nishida and D. T. Suzuki, to practice Zazen, once visited Zen master Setsumon Genshō.
