Shorenji Temple Scripture House

Shorenji Kyozo: A Rare Hexagonal Sutra Repository

Nestled at the western foot of the Goshikidai plateau in Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture, Shorenji Temple (正蓮寺) is home to a remarkable architectural gem — its Kyozo, or sutra repository. Built in 1879 during the early Meiji era, this single-story earthen storehouse features an exceptionally rare hexagonal floor plan, making it one of the most distinctive Buddhist architectural structures in the Shikoku region. Registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property in March 2019, the Shorenji Kyozo stands as a testament to the rich religious heritage and architectural ingenuity of rural Kagawa.

What Is a Kyozo (Sutra Repository)?

A kyozo is a specialized structure within a Buddhist temple compound designed to store sacred scriptures (sutras), religious texts, and other important documents. Throughout Japanese Buddhist history, these repositories played a vital role in preserving and transmitting the teachings of Buddhism. While many temples across Japan possess sutra repositories, the Shorenji Kyozo is notable for its unusual hexagonal design — a departure from the more common rectangular or square forms typically seen in such buildings.

Architectural Features

The Shorenji Kyozo is a single-story earthen storehouse (dozo-zukuri) with a total building area of 26 square meters. Its most striking feature is the hexagonal floor plan, topped with a hon-gawara (traditional tile) roof. The entrance is sheltered by a kohei (worship porch) with a kirizuma-zukuri gable roof featuring a graceful mukuri (upward curve), lending the structure an elegant silhouette.

The exterior walls are constructed in the okabe-zukuri style, a type of plastered wall construction where the structural columns are expressed as visible pillar shapes on the surface, creating a rhythmic pattern around the hexagonal form. The front face features a main doorway, while the western side is adorned with a kato-mado — a distinctive flower-shaped window commonly found in Zen and other Buddhist architecture, adding a refined decorative element to the otherwise sturdy storehouse construction.

Perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of the building is the kohei (entrance porch), which is lavishly decorated with vivid, three-dimensional animal carvings. These figurative sculptures bring a lively, almost celebratory energy to the structure, contrasting beautifully with the restrained elegance of the main body. The carvings demonstrate the skilled craftsmanship that flourished in the region during the Meiji period.

Why It Was Designated as a Cultural Property

The Shorenji Kyozo was registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property (Registered Cultural Property — Buildings) on March 29, 2019. Several factors contributed to this designation:

First, its hexagonal floor plan is extremely rare among Japanese Buddhist temple buildings, making it an architecturally significant example of creative design in religious architecture. Second, the combination of robust earthen storehouse construction with refined decorative elements — including the kato window and elaborate animal carvings — demonstrates a sophisticated blending of practical function and artistic expression. Third, the kyozo stands across the approach path from the temple's bell tower (shoro), and together they form the omotegamae (front facade) of the temple compound, contributing to a well-composed and historically significant temple landscape.

The Shorenji Kyozo is part of a group of registered cultural properties at Shorenji Temple, which also includes the Main Hall (built in 1825), the Bell Tower, the Main Gate, and the Grand and Small Entrance Halls — making the entire temple compound a valuable ensemble of traditional religious architecture.

Shorenji Temple: A Jodo Shinshu Heritage

Shorenji Temple belongs to the Shinshu Kosho-ha branch of Jodo Shinshu (True Pure Land) Buddhism, one of the most widely practiced Buddhist traditions in Japan. Founded by the monk Shinran in the Kamakura period (13th century), Jodo Shinshu emphasizes salvation through faith in Amida Buddha and the recitation of the nembutsu (the invocation of Amida's name).

The temple's Main Hall, built in 1825 during the late Edo period, is itself a fine example of Sanuki-region Shinshu architecture. It features an irimoya-zukuri (hip-and-gable) roof with hon-gawara tiling and a one-bay kohei entrance. The interior uses round columns for the central area and square columns for the outer sections. The kohei is richly decorated with carvings of dragons, baku (mythical creatures), and dynamic wave-and-carp motifs on the rainbow beams — a hallmark of the ornate decorative traditions of late Edo-period Pure Land temples in the Sanuki region.

Highlights and Things to See

Visiting Shorenji Temple offers a layered experience of traditional Japanese religious architecture in a peaceful rural setting. Key highlights include:

The Hexagonal Kyozo itself is the primary attraction, with its unusual shape immediately catching the eye as you enter the temple grounds. Take time to appreciate the animal carvings on the entrance porch — these lively figurative sculptures are full of character and detail. The kato-mado (flower-shaped window) on the western wall is another feature worth examining closely, as it represents a classic element of Buddhist temple design.

The Main Hall (Hondo) rewards careful observation of its carved decorations, especially the dragons and baku on the kohei and the wave-and-carp patterns on the rainbow beams. The Bell Tower (Shoro) stands across the approach path from the kyozo, creating a balanced and visually harmonious temple entrance. The Main Gate (Sanmon) frames the approach to the temple compound and sets the tone for the visit.

The temple grounds are at their most atmospheric during the spring cherry blossom season and in autumn when the surrounding hillsides of Goshikidai take on vibrant foliage colors.

Nearby Attractions

Shorenji Temple is located in the Kamo district of Sakaide City, at the western foot of the Goshikidai plateau. The surrounding area is rich in cultural and natural attractions that complement a visit to the temple.

Kandani Shrine (神谷神社), located in the eastern part of Sakaide, houses a National Treasure — its Main Hall, built in 1219 during the early Kamakura period. It is the oldest datable shrine architecture in Japan, making it an essential destination for anyone interested in Japanese architectural heritage.

Shiromineji Temple (白峯寺), the 81st temple on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, is situated on the slopes of Goshikidai and features multiple Important Cultural Properties. Tenno-ji Temple (天皇寺), the 79th pilgrimage temple, is also nearby and is associated with the tragic story of Emperor Sutoku.

The Goshikidai plateau itself offers panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea and the iconic Seto Ohashi Bridge, along with hiking trails and the Goshikidai Visitor Center. The area is also known for its seasonal beauty, from cherry blossoms in spring to spectacular autumn foliage.