The Hokyointo Called "Ashikaga Takauji's Grave"
Jodoji Temple Hokyointo Stupa (浄土寺宝篋印塔, Jōdo-ji Hōkyōintō) is a stone hōkyōintō of the Nanbokuchō period (14th century) on the south side of Jodoji Temple in Higashikubo-cho, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, designated an Important Cultural Property on March 23, 1961.
Jodoji has two hōkyōintō designated under the same name; this page covers the one on the south side. The Hiroshima Prefectural Board of Education notes that this Jodoji Hokyointo has been called "the grave of Ashikaga Takauji," and the temple's own list of treasures names one of its two hōkyōintō as the "stupa said to be Takauji's."
That is tradition, not record. The stupa carries no dated inscription, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs places it in the early Muromachi period, between 1333 and 1392. Takauji's tie to the temple itself is documented: in 1336, on his way to Kyushu, he brought his ships in to pray here for victory, and in the fifth month of the same year he returned to spend a night of prayer before the main image. That history is the likely reason his name has settled on this stone.
A Benchmark Hokyointo for the Chugoku Region
The Hiroshima board of education calls this Jodoji Hokyointo a representative Nanbokuchō-period hōkyōintō of the Chūgoku region, complete with its spire. At 1.9 meters it is much smaller than the 3.2-meter stupa dated 1348 at the eastern edge of the grounds, but the praise is for form, not size.
The board describes it as highly refined, well carved and well proportioned, compact and solid. It singles out the compound lotus petals on the lowest tier and the large cusped panels on the sides of the base. The body carries the seed syllables of the four Buddhas of the Diamond Realm, and the corner ornaments of the roof lean slightly outward, with the syllables of the eight guardian devas of the directions set inside their double-arched frames.
The other key point is the spire. On stone hōkyōintō the ringed spire is long and slender and breaks easily, and many stupas have lost theirs or carry later replacements. This one keeps the full sequence up to the top.
What to Look For at the South Hokyointo
Start at the ground with the lotus tier, where the petals point downward; the Hiroshima board calls their form compound. Above it, the cusped panels on the base are large for a stupa of this height.
Then look up at the four corners of the roof. The ornaments open slightly outward, and the seed syllables are cut inside them. Finish by following the spire from its base to the tip to take in the whole of a complete Jodoji Hokyointo.
If you have time, walk to the dated Jodoji Hokyointo at the eastern edge. That one has a receiving platform between base and body, a regional trait, and seeing both makes the difference between two stupas of the same era clear.
Visiting the South Jodoji Hokyointo
This Jodoji Hokyointo stands outdoors on the south side of the grounds and can be seen free of charge whenever the grounds are open.
Please do not touch or lean on the stone, and view it from a short distance. Directions and admission are on the Jodoji Temple page.
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Q&A
- Is the Jodoji Temple Hokyointo Stupa really Ashikaga Takauji's grave?
- It has traditionally been called his grave, but there is no inscription to prove it. Takauji's prayers at Jodoji in 1336 are documented.
- When was the south Jodoji Hokyointo made?
- It has no dated inscription. The Agency for Cultural Affairs places it between 1333 and 1392, in the Nanbokuchō period.
- Why is the south Jodoji Hokyointo an Important Cultural Property?
- It is a refined, well-proportioned stupa with its spire intact, regarded as a representative Nanbokuchō hōkyōintō of the Chūgoku region. It was designated in 1961.
- How do the two Jodoji Hokyointo stupas differ?
- The eastern one is dated 1348, stands 3.2 meters and has a regional receiving platform. The southern one is 1.9 meters and is valued for its complete spire and tight proportions.
- Is it free to see the Jodoji Hokyointo?
- Yes. It stands outdoors on the south side of the grounds and can be seen whenever the grounds are open.
Basic Information
| Name | Jodoji Temple Hokyointo Stupa (浄土寺宝篋印塔); the stupa on the south side |
|---|---|
| Location | Higashikubo-cho, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | 1961 (March 23) |
| Quantity | 1 stupa |
| Dimensions | Stone hōkyōintō; height 1.9 meters (Hiroshima Prefectural Board of Education) |
| Owner | Jodoji Temple |
| Public Access | Outdoors in the grounds; free to view |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Jodoji Hokyointo (designated 1961)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/3136
- Cultural Heritage Online: Jodoji Hokyointo
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/190973
- Hiroshima Prefectural Board of Education: Cultural Properties of Onomichi (PDF, Japanese)
- https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/655404.pdf
- Jodoji Temple: List of Treasures (Japanese)
- https://ermjp.com/j/temple/houmotu/list.htm
- Jodoji Temple: History (Japanese)
- https://ermjp.com/j/temple/histry/engi.htm
Last verified: 2026.09.27
