SOJIJI SOIN (Sojiji Ancestor Temple)

The head temple Sojiji was founded about seven hundred years ago in 1321 by Zen Master Keizan Jokin. In the summer of 1322, the Japanese Emperor Godaigo issued an imperial edict to bestow upon Sojiji the honor of "Chokuganjo" (a temple built at the wishes of the Emperor). From then on, the temple became increasingly prosperous, growing to more than 16,000 subordinate temples all over Japan. Most of the temple buildings however, were unfortunately destroyed by a fire on April 13th 1898, On that occasion the temple was transferred to Tsurumi, Yokohama City. New buildings were then constructed one after another in the fire-ravaged area to revive the temple as a "Sobyo" (ancestral mausoleum). Sojiji Soin(Sojiji ancestor temple) still today attracts many visitors and trainee monks.