Amida Temple

This temple is located in Murekamisakamoto, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is a branch temple of Todaiji Temple. It belongs to the Omuro school of the Shingon sect and is called Kaguzan. After Todaiji Temple burned down in 1180 (Jisho 4), Shunjobo Chogen was made the Daikanjinsho (best-man's temple) to rebuild it. For the reconstruction, the Imperial Court donated the taxes of the entire Suo province to Todaiji Temple and appointed Chogen to manage the affairs of Suo. After Chogen was given special treatment, Amidaji Temple was founded in 1187 (Bun'ei 3) to pray for the peace of Emperor Shirakawa in this life. The iron pagoda, a national treasure, bears an inscription that Chogen built it in 1197 (Kenkyu 8), and is engraved with the construction of Todaiji Temple. Important cultural properties of the country include the seated statue of Chogen, two statues of Kongorikishi, a roll of the Amidaji Temple land farming order and exemption certificate, and the Todaiji Temple hammer seal. Within the temple grounds are the main hall, Nembutsu hall, Niomon gate, and other buildings.

[Masahiro Nomura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

山口県防府(ほうふ)市牟礼(むれ)上坂本にある寺。東大寺別院。真言宗御室(おむろ)派に所属し、華宮山(かぐうざん)と号す。1180年（治承4）東大寺が焼失したのち、俊乗房重源(しゅんじょうぼうちょうげん)を大勧進職として再建させたが、そのときの復興に朝廷は周防(すおう)一国の租税を東大寺に寄付し、重源を周防の国務の管理に任じた。阿弥陀寺は、重源が殊遇を受けたのち白河法皇の現世安穏を祈って1187年（文治3）に創建。国宝の鉄宝塔には、建久(けんきゅう)8年（1197）重源造立の銘があり、東大寺造営のことを刻んでいる。国の重要文化財に重源坐像(ざぞう)、金剛力士像2躯(く)、阿弥陀寺領田畠注文並免除状1巻、東大寺槌印(つちいん)があり、寺内に本堂、念仏堂、仁王門などが建つ。

［野村全宏］

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