History of Soufukuji
400 years of history
In March 1600, the 5th Year of the Keicho era (3 years before Edo Shogunate was founded by Ieyasu Tokugawa) Kayama Sogen priests built the Sofuku Hermitage in Nihonbashi Hamacho.
In 1613 (the 18th year of the Keicho era) Lord Sakai Utanokami Tadayo of Ueno Umayabashi converted to Buddhism and built Sofukuji as the main Soneiji temple in Konodai.
In the Year 1657, Sofukuji was lost to the great fire of Meireki.
In the reign of Sakai Tadakiyo, grandson of Tadayo, the temple was enlarged by approximately 4,300 square metres and was rebuilt in Asakua Matsukiyo town.
Since then, Sofukuji temple has prospered as the Sakai Clan’s temple in Edo.
Therefore, Sofukuji bears the Sakai clan’s crest as the temple emblem.
The Sakai are one of the oldest and most prominent clans of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
The Sakai count as one of the four chief minister families of the Edo era, with the feudal rank of Fudai Hitto. Many chief ministers and members of the Council of Elders are chosen from the family, which holds the appointment of Utanokami.
In the Sakai Clan garden near Edo Castle’s Ote gate, the main grave of Masakado Taira is enshrined by the family, with the memorial service performed by the Chief Priest of Sofukuji.
On September in the 12th year of Taisho era, the temple was destroyed by the great Kanto earthquake and was subsequently moved from Asakusa to Takasago in the 3rd year of the Showa Era. The main temple, main gate, and bell tower was rebuilt in the 8th year of the Showa Era.
Graves of successive Sakai Utanokami are located at Ryukaiin in Maebashi City of Gunma prefecture.
Here in Sofukuji lie the graves of the Sakai Utanokami and the Sakai family of the Isesaki domain.
