Kosanji Temple

This is a Jodo Shinshu Honganji temple in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture. Its mountain name is Choseizan, and it is commonly known as the "Nikko of the West." It is a new temple built by local ironworker Kozo Kanemoto, who entered Buddhism to pray for his mother's soul and built it on his own. Construction began in 1936, and twenty or so buildings, including the main hall, were built on the hillside of Kannonyama on Ikuchijima Island in the Seto Inland Sea. The buildings are modeled after representative temple architecture from various eras in Japan, including the Koyomon Gate, which imitates the Yomeimon Gate of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, and the Kondo Hall, which imitates the Phoenix Hall of Byodoin Temple in Uji. Inside the buildings are many cultural assets such as paintings, sculptures, crafts, and calligraphy, and there are about 60 nationally designated Important Cultural Properties and Important Art Objects. The temple treasures have been exhibited in the treasure house and other places and have been made public, but in 1952 (Showa 27), some of the temple halls were designated as museums.

[Koji Shimizu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

広島県尾道(おのみち)市にある浄土真宗本願寺派の寺。山号は潮声山(ちょうせいざん)。俗に「西の日光」といわれる。当地出身の鉄工業者金本耕三(かねもとこうぞう)が、母の菩提供養(ぼだいくよう)のため仏道に入り、独力で建立した新興の寺院。1936年（昭和11）に起工、瀬戸内海の生口島(いくちじま)の観音山(かんのんざん)中腹に本堂をはじめ二十数棟の堂宇を建立した。諸堂宇はわが国各時代の代表的寺院建築を模したもので、日光東照宮陽明門を模した孝養門、宇治の平等院鳳凰堂(ほうおうどう)を模した金堂などがある。堂内には絵画、彫刻、工芸、書跡などの多くの文化財があり、国指定重要文化財・重要美術品は約60点に及ぶ。寺宝は宝蔵などに出陳、公開されてきたが、52年（昭和27）諸堂の一部が博物館に指定された。

［清水　乞］

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