Goshoji Temple

The head temple of the Izumoji branch of the Shinshu sect of Buddhism, located in Shimizugashira-cho, Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture. The mountain name is Izumoji-san. In 1233 (Tenpuku 1), Shinran founded a temple in Izumoji, Otagi County, Yamashiro Province (Kita Ward, Kyoto City). Zenran succeeded him, but the temple fell into decline. Josen, a disciple of Kakunyo, the third abbot of Honganji, rebuilt it, and it was later succeeded by Zennyu, Zenchi, and Zenko. During the reign of Zenko, the temple buildings were burned down in the wars of the Onin era (1467-1469), and his eldest son Zenhide remained in Kyoto, but his second and third sons Zenchin and Zenchi moved with their mother to Echizen Province (Fukui Prefecture). Kenkyo (Genshu), of Shojoji Temple in Yokogoshi (Sabae City) in the same province, who had a close relationship with Zenko, became a disciple of Rennyo and was driven out of the temple, so Zenchin moved there and lived there, which is how the temple began in Fukui. It is said that in 1603 (Keicho 8) during the reign of the 12th abbot Zensho, the temple left Shojoji Temple and moved to its current location, but there are various theories about its founding. In 1878 (Meiji 11), it became independent from the jurisdiction of Honganji Temple and formed a separate sect. The main hall, sutra storehouse, and other buildings are located on the vast temple grounds, but most of the buildings were rebuilt during the Meiji period.

[Koji Shimizu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

福井県越前(えちぜん)市清水頭(しみずがしら)町にある真宗出雲路(いずもじ)派の本山。山号は出雲路山。1233年（天福1）親鸞(しんらん)が山城(やましろ)国愛宕(おたぎ)郡出雲路（京都市北区）に一寺を創立。善鸞(ぜんらん)がこれを継いだが、寺は衰微した。本願寺第3世覚如(かくにょ)の門弟乗専(じょうせん)が再興し、その後、善入、善智(ぜんち)、善幸が継いだ。善幸のとき、応仁(おうにん)年間（1467～69）の兵乱により堂舎を焼失、長子善秀は京都にとどまったが、次男の善鎮と三男の善智は母とともに越前(えちぜん)国（福井県）に移った。善幸と縁が深かった同国横越(よこごし)（鯖江(さばえ)市）証誠寺(しょうじょうじ)の兼慶(けんきょう)（玄秀(げんしゅう)）が蓮如(れんにょ)の門に入り寺を追われたので、善鎮がその後に入って住したのが福井での始まりである。1603年（慶長8）第12世善照のとき証誠寺を離れて現在地に移ったと伝えるが、開基については諸説がある。1878年（明治11）本願寺の所轄から独立し、別派をなした。広大な寺域に本堂、経蔵などが建つが、堂宇の大半は明治時代に再建されたものである。

［清水　乞］

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