A Small Hall at the North End of the Grounds
The Senkyoji Temple Ossuary (専教寺納骨堂) is a temple ossuary of the mid-Showa period (1946 to 1965) in Funaki, Takamiyacho, Akitakata City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on December 5, 2019 (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The temple name is also romanized Senkyō-ji.
The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 21 square metres; registration number 34-0262.
A Pyramid-Roofed Hall at the North End
The Senkyoji Temple Ossuary is a small hall at the north end of the temple grounds, facing south (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It measures three bays across the front and two bays deep, under a pyramidal Hōgyō-zukuri roof of pantiles.
The centre of the front holds a pair of folding Sankarado panelled doors, flanked by bell-shaped Katōmado windows, with carved Ranma transoms above (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Inside is a single tatami-floored room with a Buddhist image enshrined at the back.
Why It Was Registered
The Senkyoji Temple Ossuary was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency singles out the ornament at the tops of the columns and the well-balanced exterior.
What to Look For
At the Senkyoji ossuary, look at the tops of the columns. A head-tie beam shaped like a curved Kōryō beam runs through them with carved Kibana at the ends, a flat plate rests above, and bracket sets of Kumimono with one projecting step and a Odaruki tail rafter carry the eaves (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The building covers only 21 square metres, yet its eaves are assembled in the same way as those of a full-scale Buddhist hall. The symmetrical front, a doorway between two windows across three bays, adds to its composed look.
Visiting
The Senkyoji ossuary holds the remains of the dead, and no official information on interior access was found. If you view it from outside, please do so quietly with its purpose in mind. Directions are on the Senkyoji Temple page.
Q&A
- When was the Senkyoji Temple Ossuary built?
- Sometime between 1946 and 1965, in the mid-Showa period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What kind of roof does the Senkyoji Temple Ossuary have?
- A pyramidal hogyo-zukuri roof of pantiles (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Where is the Senkyoji Temple Ossuary within the grounds?
- At the north end of the grounds, facing south (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What should I look for at the Senkyoji Temple Ossuary?
- The bracket sets with tail rafters at the column tops and the symmetrical front of panelled doors between bell-shaped windows.
- When was the Senkyoji Temple Ossuary registered?
- On December 5, 2019 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Senkyoji Temple Ossuary (専教寺納骨堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1506-1 Higashifukuda, Funaki, Takamiyacho, Akitakata City, Hiroshima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2019/12/05 (Reiwa 1) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, tiled roof, building area 21 m² |
| Owner | Senkyoji Temple (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | No official information on interior access |
References
- Senkyoji Temple Ossuary (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00013189
- Senkyoji Temple Ossuary (Cultural Heritage Online, Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/447333
- Senkyoji Temple: Main Hall, Ossuary and Main Gate (Akitakata City, Japanese)
- https://www.akitakata.jp/ja/shisei/section/kyouiku/shisekibunkazai/cultural_asset/w154/
Last verified: 2026.11.09
