were Buddhist temples established in each of the provinces of Japan by Emperor Shōmu during the Nara period (710 – 794). History Shōmu (701 – 756?) decreed both a kokubun-ji for monks and a for nuns to be established in each province. Tōdai-ji, the provincial temple of Yamato Province, served as the head of all kokubun-ji, and Hokke-ji held that duty for the kokubunni-ji. Modern place names Modern place names based on this etymology include: Kokubunji, Kagawa Kokubunji, Tokyo Kokubunji, Tochigi See also 735–737 Japanese smallpox epidemic Fuchū Glossary of Japanese Buddhism Ichinomiya References Buddhist temples in Japan Buddhist archaeological sites in Japan Former provinces of Japan Emperor Shōmu Buddhism in the Nara period