News Reconstruction of Sojiji Soin: a decade-long effort following severe earthquake damage

Sōjiji Soin is a historic Sōtō Zen temple in Monzen, Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, founded initially as Morooka-ji by Gyoki. It became a Sōtō Zen monastery in 1321 when Keizan Jokin reestablished it as Sojiji. Emperor Go-Daigo is said to have honoured the temple with an imperial plaque the following year, although this remains a legend.

During the Edo period, Sōjiji and Eiheiji were officially recognized as a head temple, receiving protection and land grants from the Tokugawa shogunate and the Kaga domain. Despite being destroyed by war in 1570, the temple was rebuilt under the Maeda clan's patronage.

A devastating fire in 1898 destroyed most of the complex. Although rebuilt by 1905, calls arose to relocate the head temple function to a more accessible location. In 1911, Sōjiji was moved to Tsurumi, Yokohama, while the original temple in Noto was renamed Sōjiji Soin ("Founder's Temple"), preserving its historical legacy.

The temple suffered severe damage in the 2007 Noto Peninsula earthquake, with all 30 buildings impacted. Restoration efforts culminated in a rededication ceremony in 2021 for the temple's 700th anniversary. However, in 2024, another earthquake collapsed several structures, including 17 nationally registered cultural properties, just as preparations were underway for the 700th memorial of Keizan. Despite repeated disasters, Sōjiji Soin remains a spiritual site, symbolising the legacy of Zen in Japan.