東光寺は1691年に創建された禅宗の一派で黄檗宗の寺院で、江戸時代（1603-1867）に萩と長州藩（現在の山口県）の藩主をつとめた毛利氏の菩提寺になっている。毛利氏は同じ禅宗の一派である臨済宗を信仰していたが、17世紀半ばに中国から来た黄檗宗に帰依した。毛利氏はまた、「昭穆葬」という中国様式の埋葬方式を採択し、奇数代の毛利家藩主と家族が東光寺に埋葬されている。東光寺には藩主一族にその忠誠心を示すため、500基の石燈籠が並んでいる。初代と偶数代の藩主は、萩の南方あるもう一つの毛利家菩提寺である大照寺に葬られている。東光寺の敷地内には、総門、三門、鐘楼、大雄宝殿（本堂）など、国の重要文化財が数多くある。これらの建物はすべて、中国風建築様式で、建築技巧、精神性はその他の萩の仏教寺院には見られないもので、東光寺の特異性を際立たせている。
Title Tokoji Temple
- Yamaguchi
- Topic(s)：
- Historic Sites/Castle Ruins Shrines/Temples/Churches Public Works & Institutions (Museums, etc.)
- Medium/Media of Use：
- Pamphlet
- Text Length：
- ≤250 Words
- FY Prepared：
- 2018
- Associated Tourism Board：
- hagi･gaikokunokataniwakariyasuikaisetsubunseibisuishinkyogikai
- Associated Address：
- 1647 Chinto, Hagi-shi , Yamaguchi
English
Founded in 1691, Tokoji is a temple of the Obaku School of Japanese Zen Buddhism. It is one of the temples built by the Mori clan, lords of the town of Hagi and the Choshu domain (modern-day Yamaguchi Prefecture) during the Edo period (1603–1867).
The Mori were already devotees of the similar Rinzai School of Zen Buddhism when Obaku was brought from China during the mid-seventeenth century, and they quickly adopted the new school upon its arrival. They also began practicing a Chinese style of burial called shobokuso which mandates the separation of the graves of the odd and even generations. Starting with the third generation, the odd-numbered generations of Mori lords and their families were buried here at Tokoji alongside more than 500 stone lanterns. These lanterns were donated by their vassals as a show of loyalty. The first lord and the even-numbered lords are buried at Daishoin, another Mori clan temple on the other side of Hagi.
Within Tokoji’s grounds are several nationally recognized Important Cultural Properties, including the outer gate (somon), main gate (sanmon), bell tower (shoro), and main hall (daiyu hoden). These buildings all represent a unique form of Chinese-influenced architecture, craftsmanship, and spirituality that make Tokoji singular among the Buddhist temples in Yamaguchi.
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