Kawasaki Daishi

The head temple of the Shingon sect Chisan school, located in Daishi-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture. It is more precisely called Kongo-san Kinjo-in Heiken-ji, but is more commonly known as Yakuyoke Kobo Daishi or Kawasaki Daishi. It is one of the three main head temples of the Chisan school in the Kanto region, along with Narita-san Shinsho-ji and Takao-san Yakuo-in. During the Daiji era (1126-1131), Hirama Kanetoyo and Kanenori, father and son warriors, settled in Kawasaki after wandering around the country and made a living as fishermen, when one day they pulled up a wooden statue (a statue of Kobo Daishi) from the sea. Kanenori was 42 years old that year, which was considered an unlucky year for him, so he made memorial services for the statue day and night, praying for protection from misfortune. Around that time, the monk Sonken Shonin of Mount Koya happened to stop by Kanenori's house while traveling around the country, and was so moved by the statue's miraculous powers that it proved to be a miracle that he and Kanenori joined forces to build a temple in 1128 (Taiji 3), which is how the temple was founded. The temple was named Heiken-ji Temple after Kanenori's surname Hirama, and the principal image of the deity came to be known as Kobo Daishi, the ward off misfortune.

In the Middle Ages, it fell into decline after being burned down by war, but in the early Edo period it became a branch temple of Rokugo Hotoin, and in 1648 (Keian 1) the shogunate donated six koku of red seals to the temple. During the Meiwa and An'ei periods (1764-1781), Ryuhan, Ryusei and others successively renovated the various halls and the temple flourished. Around this time, the temple was visited by the shogun Tokugawa Ienari, and it came to be widely worshipped by the common people. In 1805 (Bunka 2), it left Hotoin and became a direct branch of Daigo Sanboin. In 1879 (Meiji 12), it left Sanboin and became the direct descendant of Kyoto Chishakuin, which became a special head temple in 1898 and was elevated to the status of Daihonzan in 1958 (Showa 33). Although the temple's buildings were destroyed by fire in 1945, efforts were made to rebuild them after the war, and the Fudo Hall and Main Hall were completed in 1964. In addition, the Nakashoin study, the road safety prayer hall, the believers' hall, the main gate, and the five-story octagonal pagoda were constructed, completely renewing the grand appearance of the temple complex.

There are many annual events, such as the Gancho Oogomaku (Great Goma Ceremony), Setsubun (a festival for the dead), and the celebration of the birth of the principal deity Kobo Daishi. The 21st is the festival day, and is particularly popular. The temple treasures include a colored silk statue of Bishamonten, which is designated as an important historical monument by Kawasaki City, as well as statues of Manjusri Bodhisattva, Acala, Aizen Myoo, and Kobo Daishi. There is also a monumental signpost with the inscription "Kobō Oshie no Michi" dated 1663, and a six-character Myōgo monument with the inscription dated 1628.

[Masahiro Nomura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

神奈川県川崎市川崎区大師町にある真言(しんごん)宗智山(ちさん)派の大本山。詳しくは金剛山金乗院平間寺(こんごうさんきんじょういんへいけんじ)と称するが、厄除弘法(やくよけこうぼう)大師、川崎大師で親しまれている。成田山新勝(しんしょう)寺、高尾山薬王院(やくおういん)とともに智山派の関東三大本山の一つ。大治(だいじ)年間（1126～1131）、平間兼豊(ひらまかねとよ)・兼乗(かねのり)父子の武士が、諸国流浪のすえ川崎の地に住み着き漁業をなりわいとしていたが、あるとき海中より1体の木像（弘法大師像）を引き揚げた。兼乗は当年42歳の厄年であったので、その像を日夜懇(ねんご)ろに供養(くよう)し、厄除けを祈願した。そのころ高野山(こうやさん)の尊賢上人(そんけんしょうにん)が諸国遊化(ゆうげ)の途上たまたま兼乗のもとに立ち寄り、尊像の霊験奇瑞(れいげんきずい)に感動し、兼乗と力をあわせて1128年（大治3）一寺を建立したのが当寺の開創で、兼乗の姓平間(ひらま)をもって平間寺(へいけんじ)と号し、本尊を厄除弘法大師と称するようになった。

　中世には兵火にかかり衰えたが、江戸初期には六郷宝幢院(ろくごうほうとういん)末寺となり、1648年（慶安1）幕府より朱印6石を寄せられた。明和(めいわ)・安永(あんえい)年間（1764～1781）隆範(りゅうはん)、隆盛(りゅうせい)らが相次いで諸堂を修造して興隆。このころ将軍徳川家斉(いえなり)の参詣(さんけい)を得て寺運栄え、広く庶民に信仰されるに至った。1805年（文化2）宝幢院を離れ、醍醐三宝院直末(じきまつ)となる。1879年（明治12）三宝院を離れ京都智積院(ちしゃくいん)直末、1898年に別格本山となり、1958年（昭和33）大本山に昇格した。1945年戦災で諸堂宇を焼失したが、戦後復興に努め、1964年に不動堂および本堂を落慶。さらに、中書院、交通安全祈祷(きとう)殿、信徒会館、大山門、八角五重塔を建立し、伽藍(がらん)の偉容を一新した。

　年中行事は、元朝大護摩供(がんちょうおおごまく)、節分会、本尊弘法大師降誕奉祝会など数多い。縁日の21日はことに参詣者が多い。寺宝に、川崎市重要歴史記念物に指定される絹本着色の毘沙門天(びしゃもんてん)像、文殊菩薩(もんじゅぼさつ)像、不動明王像、愛染(あいぜん)明王像、弘法大師像などがある。また碑蹟(ひせき)に寛文(かんぶん)3年（1663）銘の道標「こうぼう大し江のみち」、寛永(かんえい)5年（1628）銘の六字名号(みょうごう)碑がある。

［野村全宏］

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