Sōjiji Temple: A Zen Oasis

Sōjiji Temple, formally known as Shogakusan Sōjiji, is a Koyasan Shingon sect temple with a history stretching back to 886. Founded by Fujiwara no Yamakage, known as the "father of the art of knife-making", the temple is famous for its Yamakage-ryu knife-making ceremony held annually on April 18th. According to legend, Yamakage's life was saved by a turtle, leading to the enshrinement of the Thousand-Armed Kannon Bodhisattva on the back of a turtle as the temple's main image. Sōjiji is the 22nd temple of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, attracting visitors seeking spiritual solace and cultural enrichment. The temple grounds provide a tranquil environment for exploration, with various halls and monuments to discover. The temple is also known as the sixth boke-fuji Kinki Juraku Kannon sacred site, where the Boke-fuji Fuhi-Kannon is enshrined. Visitors can admire the elegant knife skills during the Yamakage-ryu Knife Ceremony, where chefs prepare fish without touching it using only knives and chopsticks. The temple also features a knife mound where people donate unused knives in hopes of improving their cooking skills. While the Sōjiji Temple in Yokohama is the administrative heart of the Soto Zen school of Buddhism, the Sōjiji in Ibaraki offers its own unique charm and historical significance. Both temples share a connection to the Soto Zen tradition, with the Yokohama temple serving as one of the two head temples of the Soto Zen school, the other being Eiheiji Temple in Fukui Prefecture.