Hosshō-ji

[1] The temple complex was located east of the Kamo River in the Shirakawa district; and its chief architectural feature was a nine-storied octagonal pagoda.

[2] Hosshō-ji is known as one of the "Six Victorious Temples" (六勝寺, Rokushō-ji),[3] which encompass monasteries enjoying extravagant Imperial patronage from their inception.

Clearly the temples were not built simply as acts of piety but as ways of protecting estate income and a certain style of life.

Evidently the building of new temples could serve as a coercive device to extract support from other kuge families and to justify the use of public taxes for the benefit of members of the imperial-house, the religious intent giving support to the political interest.

[5] The Rokushō-ji were also called the six "Superiority Temples;" and each were uniquely dedicated to an aspect of esoteric Buddhist ontology, as in An earthquake in 1185 destroyed most of the structures, and they were not reconstructed.