Kimiidera Temple

A temple located in Kimiidera, Wakayama City. It is the head temple of the Guze Kannon sect of the Shingon sect. Its official name is Kimiizan Kongohoji Gokokuin. There are three pure springs within the temple grounds, and it is called Kimiidera to distinguish it from Miidera (Onjoji) in Shiga Prefecture. It is the second temple of the Thirty-Three Temples of the Western Provinces. It is said that in 770 (Hōki 1), a Chinese monk named Tamemitsu came to Japan and established the temple by enshrining an eleven-faced Kannon. During the Heian period, it was designated the second temple by Emperor Kazan, was a place of imperial prayer by Emperor Goshirakawa, and was visited by Emperor Toba. During the Kamakura period, Eison was invited to preach the Bonmokai (Bonmoukai) and a letter of prohibition against killing was presented to the 19 districts of the shrine's territory. It was protected by successive feudal lords, including Yamana, Kuwayama, Asano, and the Tokugawa clan. The tower gate, bell tower, pagoda, Senju Kannon statue (said to be made by Tamemitsu in the Nara period, but dates from the mid-Fujiwara period), two eleven-headed Kannon statues, and statues of Bonten and Taishakuten are all designated as Important Cultural Properties by the nation. There are many stone monuments bearing haiku poems by haiku poets, including Matsuo Basho, within the grounds.

[Tamura Kosuke]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

和歌山市紀三井寺にある寺。真言宗系の救世観音(ぐぜかんのん)宗の本山。紀三井山金剛宝寺護国院(こんごうほうじごこくいん)が正式名称。境内に三つの清泉があり、滋賀県の三井寺（園城寺(おんじょうじ)）と区別して、紀三井寺とよばれる。西国(さいごく)三十三所第2番札所。770年（宝亀1）唐の僧、為光が来日、十一面観音を安置して開創したと伝える。平安時代には花山(かざん)法皇の第2番札所指定、後白河(ごしらかわ)法皇の勅願所、鳥羽(とば)法皇の臨幸などがあった。鎌倉時代、叡尊(えいそん)を招いて梵網戒(ぼんもうかい)を説かしめ、神宮領19郷の殺生禁断状を捧(ささ)げた。山名、桑山、浅野、徳川氏など代々の領主が保護した。楼門、鐘楼、多宝塔、千手観音(せんじゅかんのん)像（奈良時代の為光作と伝えるが、藤原中期のもの）、十一面観音像2体、梵天(ぼんてん)・帝釈天(たいしゃくてん)像は国の重要文化財。境内には松尾芭蕉(ばしょう)をはじめ俳人の句碑が多い。

［田村晃祐］

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