Provincial temple

Kokubun-ji (国分寺) 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 kokubunni-ji (国分尼寺) 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