Kenchoji is the main temple of the Kenchoji School within the Rinzai Sect, which is the number one of Kamakura's five great Zen temples. The Honzon (the object of worship) is Jizo Bosatsu. Kenchoji Temple was founded by Hojo Tokiyori in 1253. He invited Rankei Doryu, a Zen priest, from China and asked to be the first head priest of the temple. It was the first Zen temple in Japan. At the time of its foundation, it featured a Chinese layout of its 7 main constituents, such as Somon (general gate), Sanmon (main gate), Butsuden (Buddha hall), and Hatto (Dharma hall), which are located in a straight line running through the precinct. The whole complex including 49 Tacchu (small temples in the precinct) was exotic and magnificent. Most of the buildings were burnt down in several fires in the later periods, but in the Edo period, it was reconstructed by the advice of a renowned priest, Takuan Osho. Hansobo at the far end of the temple's precinct is on the way to the Amazono hiking course, which leads to Kamakura-gu Shrine and Zuisenji Temple. At the present time, Kenchoji Temple is a large temple composed of 12 Tacchu temples and well-known for the training ashram of Zen Buddhism.