Entsuji Temple Park

Entsuji Temple Park in the village of Kyokushi, southeast of central Kikuchi, occupies the site of the former Entsuji Temple, once an influential religious institution under the protection of the Kikuchi clan. The temple is thought to have been established in Kyokushi by Kikuchi Noritaka, the founder of the Kikuchi clan, who had Entsuji relocated from Kyoto when he arrived in the Kikuchi region in 1070. In that period, Kyokushi was on the border of the Kikuchi clan’s territory, and the temple may have played a role in defending the castle town of Waifu.

Entsuji grew into a major temple during the time of Kikuchi Takefusa (1245–1285), a heroic figure known for his role in repelling the Mongol invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281. Takefusa granted Entsuji significant lands. The temple prospered until the sixteenth century, when the Kikuchi clan’s influence waned, its territory was diminished, and the clan was eventually vanquished by rival warlords.

Local interest in Entsuji and Kikuchi clan history rose again in the 1800s, and the temple was restored between 1830 and 1844. The pond, temple hall, and stone gate in the present-day park were added at that time. The gate was built with red-tinged volcanic rock from Mt. Aso and is distinguished by its decorative roof with eaves that curve elegantly upwards. A rhododendron garden and a hillside trail dotted with statues of Buddhist deities are also part of the park. The deities mark shrines representing a miniature version of the famous 88-temple pilgrimage around the island of Shikoku.

※About the Kikuchi clan.（菊池一族とは）

※Other cultural property explanatory boards are also multilingual.（この他の文化財説明板も多言語化しています。）

円通寺（円通寺の石門）

　円通寺ははじめ天長４年（８２４）山城の国（京都府）に建てられましたが、時を経て衰微したこの寺を、延久２年（１０７０）菊池初代則隆が勅許を得てこの地に移し造営しました。元寇時の猛将菊池武房は寺領１５町を寄進とあり、菊池一族の厚い信仰の中心として繁栄しましたが、菊池氏の衰退とともに寺院も衰え、天正年間（１５７３～１５９２）戦禍に焼き払われてしまいました。

　寛文７年（１６６７）、玄喜和尚が熊本泰勝寺、春山和尚にはかり再興し、時移り天保年間（１８３０～１８４４）自忍和尚は自ら復興に努め、唐風の石門を建て、宝池を築き、仏像を彫り、寺内を修復しました。

　明治３３年（１９００）、本堂裏の屏風岩に８８箇所の修行道が区民により作られ、近年は石楠花園も整備され参拝に供しています。本堂横の岸壁には「大悲」の文字がみられます。

　平成１２年、台風、地震、交通量の増加などにより傷んだ石門が、熊本県、旭志村（当時）、岩本区により修復されました。