What is "ankoku-ji"

is a Buddhist temple of the Kokutai-ji branch of Rinzai school of Buddhism in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. This temple was built by the priest Kakushin in 1273. Afterwards, it was revived by Ankokuji Ekei in 1579, though it remained in decline. This temple is classified as an Important Cultural Property.

is a kind of Buddhist temple. Ankoku-ji may mean "Temple for National Pacification". There are numerous Ankoku-ji throughout Japan and the world.

The Ankoku-ji system was developed under the Ashikaga shogunate, as part of its stabilizing the country. The Fudoin Temple within Higashi-ku, Hiroshima, for example, was built by Shogun Takauji Ashikaga as one of 60 Ankoku-ji temples which were constructed in all provinces across Japan, in the 14th century.

Specific ones in Japan include:

• Ankoku-ji (Fukuyama), located in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture
• Fudoin Temple in Higashi-Ku, Ushita-shinmachi, Hiroshima.
• Ankoku-ji (Fukuoka), located in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture
• Ankoku-ji (Kurume), located in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture
• Ankoku-ji (Kitakyushu), located in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture
• Ankoku-ji (Shimotsuke), located in Shimotsuke, Tochigi Prefecture
• Ankoku-ji (Takayama), located in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture