Kenchō-ji

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Kencho-ji Temple from main gate

Kenchō-ji (建長寺) is one of the five great Zen temples in the city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, and the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan.

The temple was constructed on the orders of Emperor Gofukakusa and completed in 1253. It was founded by Rankei Doryu, a Chinese Zen master who moved to Japan in 1246.

Kencho-ji was originally a series of seven main buildings and 49 subtemples, although most of these were lost in fires in the 14th and 15th centuries. The temple currently consists of ten subtemples. The most notable buildings include:

Somon (General Gate), which was moved from the Hanju Zanmai-in temple in Kyoto.
Sanmon (Main Gate), built in 1754.
Bonsho (Temple Bell), cast in 1255.
Butsuden (Buddha Hall) and Karamon (Chinese Gate), which were moved from the Zojo-ji Temple in Tokyo in 1647.
Hatto (Dharma Hall), built in 1814, where public ceremonies are held.
Hojo (Main Hall), also moved from the Hanju Zanmai-in temple in Kyoto, used for religious ceremonies.
Monastery, where monks are trained in meditation, closed to the public.