Sōfuku-ji Temple
Sōfuku-ji Temple in Nagasaki City is a prominent temple of the Ōbaku Zen sect. Alongside Kōfuku-ji and Fukusai-ji, it is regarded as one of the “Three Fuku Temples of Nagasaki,” and it is also counted among the city’s four great Chinese temples. Founded in 1629 (Kan’ei 6) by Chinese immigrants from Fujian, it invited the eminent monk Chōzen from Fuzhou as its founding abbot. It is considered the oldest surviving Chinese-style temple in Japan, which is why it is also referred to as the “Fuzhou Temple” or the “Chinese Temple.”
Within its temple complex, the Main Hall (Daiyūhōden) and the First Peak Gate (Ippōmon), both dating to the mid-17th century, are designated National Treasures. These structures vividly embody the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Other buildings such as the Sanmon Gate, the Bell and Drum Towers, the Guardian Hall, and the Ma-jie Gate are designated as Important Cultural Properties. The temple also preserves the Nehan-zu (Painting of the Buddha’s Nirvana), created in 1610 by the Ming dynasty painter Wu Bin.
Sōfuku-ji has served not only as a religious site but also played a significant role in Japan’s modern history. In the late Edo period, it hosted schools for studying English and training interpreters, including one that later became the predecessor of Rikkyo University, as well as educational institutions for the children of Chinese interpreters (tōtsūji). Key figures of the Bakumatsu era—such as Yoshida Shōin, Takasugi Shinsaku, and Sakamoto Ryōma—visited the temple. Many diplomats and interpreters who contributed to Japan’s modernization received their training here, establishing a foundation for Japan’s linguistic and educational development in the Meiji era.
A curious link to modern life also remains within the temple grounds. The qilin (kirin) statue on the Sōfuku-ji stone monument is said to have inspired the first label design of Kirin Beer. Other theories suggest that the inspiration came from the Chinese-style guardian lions at Glover Garden or from British brewery emblems. What is certain is that Thomas Blake Glover, the Scottish merchant deeply involved in the founding of Kirin Beer, was particularly fond of the qilin figure. He even once requested a qilin statue from Dazaifu Tenmangū, though unsuccessfully. This has left an intriguing connection between Sōfuku-ji and the rise of modern Japanese corporate culture.
