A Nanboku-cho Stone Pagoda at Nishiyama Koryuji
The Koryuji Hokyoin Pagoda (興隆寺宝篋印塔, Kōryūji hōkyōintō) is a granite Hōkyōintō of the Nanboku-cho period standing in the grounds of Koryuji, also known as Nishiyama Koryuji, in Furuta, Tanbara-cho, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on September 17, 1954.
According to the Ehime Prefectural Board of Education, the pagoda stands to the right rear of the main hall as you face it, and temple tradition calls it a memorial to Minamoto no Yoritomo. It rises from a two-tier platform to a total height of 305 cm. The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as 1 pagoda of the early Muromachi period (1333 to 1392).
Why It Matters
The Koryuji Hokyoin Pagoda was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1954. Ehime Prefecture notes that no reliable tradition records its history, but its overall form and workmanship point to the Nanboku-cho period. It is exceptionally well preserved, with no sign of damage from the base to the finial, and keeps a perfectly ordered form.
The carving is restrained. A Sanskrit seed syllable is cut on the front of the body, and lotus petals are carved in relief in the centre of the cusped koza panel on the front of the base (Ehime Prefectural Board of Education). The tradition linking it to Yoritomo is presented here only as temple lore.
What to Look For
Take in the whole form first. From base to body, roof stone and spire, nothing is missing, and the 305 cm pagoda stands neatly on its two-tier platform. This complete, undamaged profile is exactly what the prefecture singles out when it praises the pagoda's condition.
Then move round to the front to find the Sanskrit syllable on the body and the relief lotus within the cusped panel of the base. Concentrating the ornament on the front alone gives the pagoda its composed, formal look.
Visiting the Koryuji Hokyoin Pagoda
The Koryuji Hokyoin Pagoda stands to the right rear of the main hall and can be seen in the temple grounds. No official guidance on photography was found, so ask at the temple.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Ehime
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Koryuji Hokyoin Pagoda
- [ Dogo Onsen & Matsuyama Castle Relaxation Tour ]
Q&A
- When was the Koryuji Hokyoin Pagoda made?
- Its form and technique point to the Nanboku-cho period; the national record gives the early Muromachi period (1333 to 1392).
- When was the Koryuji Hokyoin Pagoda designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On September 17, 1954.
- How tall is the Koryuji Hokyoin Pagoda?
- The granite pagoda stands 305 cm tall on a two-tier platform.
- Is the Koryuji pagoda a memorial to Minamoto no Yoritomo?
- Temple tradition says so, but no reliable record of its history survives.
- Where is the Koryuji Hokyoin Pagoda in the temple grounds?
- To the right rear of the main hall as you face it.
Basic Information
| Name | Koryuji Hokyoin Pagoda (興隆寺宝篋印塔) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1657 Furuta, Tanbara-cho, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture (Koryuji) |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1954/9/17 (Showa 29) |
| Quantity | 1 pagoda |
| Dimensions | Stone hokyointo, granite, 305 cm tall |
| Owner | Koryuji |
| Public Access | Viewable in the temple grounds |
References
- Koryuji Hokyoin Pagoda (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/3383
- Koryuji Hokyoin Pagoda (Ehime no Bunkazai, Ehime Prefectural Board of Education)
- https://www.pref.ehime.jp/ehimenotakara/71.html
Last verified: 2026.10.05
