Overview

Established in 1392 and closely linked with the Ashigawa shogunate, during the Onin wars [1467-1477] which began at nearby Tenkaibashi, this temple was occupied by military forces. Subsequent to his abdication and his Zen studies, Gomizunoo marked his entry into priesthood by shaving his head at Shokoku-ji. It is said that Japanese painting icons Sesshu [1420-1506] and Masanobu Kano worked here. Formerly a major Zen temple, most of the buildings are sadly not original.