A Dated Kamakura Stone Pagoda at Serada
The Chorakuji Stone Pagoda (長楽寺宝塔) is a stone hoto pagoda of 1276 in the grounds of Chorakuji at Serada-cho, Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on March 23, 1961. The underside of its base is inscribed with the date of the 25th day of the 12th month of 1276 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a stone hoto, one structure. According to Ota City, it is one of a group of stone monuments on top of the round part of Monjuyama, a keyhole-shaped burial mound in the temple grounds, said to be the graves of Yoshisue, founder of Chorakuji and ancestor of the Tokugawa, and his descendants.
An Inscription Found by Chance
Ota City says that in 1931, while the tilting pagoda was being set right during work on a stone wall round the cemetery, an inscription dating it to the Kamakura period was found by chance on the underside of the base; until then nothing was known of it from records or tradition.
The inscription records that In'go, third head priest, raised the pagoda in 1276. Ichio In'go went to Song China in 1244, became the third head priest of Chorakuji on his return in 1258, served for 24 years and died at the temple in 1281 (Ota City).
Why It Was Designated
The Chorakuji Stone Pagoda was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1961. According to Ota City, Gunma has many hoto pagodas, but only 13 are thought to be of the Kamakura period and only two bear Kamakura-era inscriptions, this being one.
What to Look For
The Chorakuji Stone Pagoda is of Tenjinyama tuff from Kasakake-machi, Midori City. Its finial is lost, but everything from the roof down survives, 187.1 centimetres from the top of the roof to the underside of the base, standing directly on the ground (Ota City).
It stands among the 16 stone monuments of the reputed Tokugawa graves (Ota City), showing the form of a Kamakura hoto amid stone towers on an ancient mound.
Visiting the Chorakuji Stone Pagoda
The Chorakuji Stone Pagoda stands among the monuments on Monjuyama mound in the grounds of Chorakuji, 3119-4 Serada-cho, Ota City. Check visiting conditions with the temple; enquiries also go to the Ota City cultural properties section (0276-20-7090) (Ota City).
Q&A
- When was the Chorakuji Stone Pagoda made?
- In 1276, as dated by the inscription under its base (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- When was the Chorakuji pagoda inscription found?
- In 1931, by chance, during work on a cemetery wall (Ota City).
- Who raised the Chorakuji Stone Pagoda?
- Ichio In'go, third head priest of Chorakuji (Ota City).
- How tall is the Chorakuji Stone Pagoda?
- 187.1 centimetres from the roof to the base; the finial is lost (Ota City).
- When was the Chorakuji Stone Pagoda designated?
- On March 23, 1961.
Basic Information
| Name | Chorakuji Stone Pagoda (Hoto) (長楽寺宝塔) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3119-4 Serada-cho, Ota City, Gunma Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1961/3/23 (Showa 36) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Stone hoto, inscribed on the base with a date in 1276 |
| Owner | Chorakuji |
| Public Access | In temple grounds (check conditions with the temple) |
References
- Chorakuji Stone Pagoda (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/429
- Chorakuji Stone Pagoda (Ota City)
- https://www.city.ota.gunma.jp/page/4224.html
Last verified: 2026.10.07