CHOHOJI
長法寺
CHOHOJI 長法寺
Chohoji is a small neighborhood temple belonging to the Tendai sect that was founded by Senkan Shonin in the year 910 at the direction of the reigning emperor. There is a spring in the precincts where refreshing water springs from a rock hole. It is said that this fountain has never withered since ancient times.
The main image of worship is an eleven-faced Kannon which was carved in the Muromachi Period (14th- 16th centuries). There is also a gold-leaf covered image of Amida Nyorai.
Located in front of the main prayer hall are two pagodas what are said to be from the 14th century.
According to the temple biography, during the Enchin era (901-923), the Kanzeon Bodhisattva appeared in a dream while Senkan Shonin was traveling around the world and said, "Stay here and build a temple.”
At one time, there were as many as twelve temples on the grounds and it was a fairly large temple in the Otokuni area but it is said that they were all burned down in the Onin War of the 1470’s. Today the temple borders a vast area of bamboo groves.