Hokkyoin

Hokkyoin is a temple in Sagano, Kyoto, originally founded as Zennyu-ji, a votive temple of Emperor Shirakawa. During the Nanbokucho period (1345-1350), the Zen monk Mokuan Shogen revived it as a Rinzai temple. The second Ashikaga shogun Yoshiakira became a devoted patron of Mokuan and supported the temple. According to temple tradition, the Southern Court warrior Kusunoki Masatsura also revered Mokuan, and after Masatsura fell at the Battle of Shijo Nawate in 1348, his head was respectfully interred here. Yoshiakira, who deeply admired Masatsura despite being his enemy, wished to be buried beside him. When Yoshiakira died in 1367, he was indeed buried next to Masatsura's grave. The temple fell into ruin at the end of the Edo period but was revived in the Meiji era. Today it is renowned for its spectacular autumn maple foliage.