ABOUT HOUNJI

The Hounji Temple grounds used to have a pond in the garden located to the south of Hokoin erected by Dajodaijin (supreme minister) Fujiwara no Kaneie in 991. After Hokoin burned down, the place went to ruin and became a forest.
The Onin War broke out in 1467, and this place became a battlefield. In Kyoto, society became unsettled, and people feared the demons appearing in this place.
In 1567, the holy priest Genrenja Nenyo calmed the demons and built a hermitage in this place for people with disturbed minds, which was the start of Hounji Temple. Later, the holy priest prayed to Amitabha every day for the salvation of lost souls and relief of the people.
In 1604, the holy priest died during the restoration of Hounji Temple.
In 1616, the second Honrenja Genyo, a holy priest, erected Hounji Temple. Since then, the name of the temple was changed from Shimizu-an and officially called Seisuizan Senshinin Hounji Temple. After that, Kawaramachi Dori (street) was improved and maintained, and the town flourished. This place is called Shimizucho, which originated from the sango (title) of Hounji Temple.
In 1788, the temple burned down in a great fire.
In 1819, the 18th Kairenja Kenyo, a holy priest, rebuilt the temple. According to the chronicle of origin, during the reconstruction, an elderly couple donated the Kanzeon Bosatsu (merciful goddess), which was the same figure as the one at Kiyomizu Temple, and the hall dedicated to the Kannon was erected. (The Kannon was named Fukuju Kanzeon Bosatsu.)
In addition, a priest found and enshrined the Kikuno spiritual stone in the precincts. The stone escaped the great fire of 1864 and has been preserved to today.