Saijoji Temple

This is a Soto sect temple located in Daiyu-cho, Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture. It is called Daiyu-san, and is also called Doryo Gongen, Doryo Son, or Odawara Doryo Sattva. It is one of the three most famous temples in Kanagawa Prefecture, along with Oyama Fudo and Kawasaki Daishi. The principal image is Shakamuni Buddha. It was founded in 1394 (Oei 1) by Ryoan Emyo with the help of his disciple Doryo Sattva. Doryo Sattva is said to have had supernatural powers, and while digging a well at the command of his teacher, he dug an iron seal, from which pure spring water gushed forth. This iron seal is called Okanai-in and is considered the temple's most sacred treasure. Saijoji Ryoan sect 16 was a major force within the Soto sect in the Kanto region and flourished until the end of the Edo period. Doryo Sattva was revered as Doryo Daigongen, and the legend goes that after his death he became a Tengu (big goblin) to protect Buddhism. This gave rise to the belief in the Great Crow Tengu, and the nine-leaf feather fan and large iron geta (wooden clogs) worn by Tengu are enshrined at the temple. There are many folk believers, and many Doryo-ko sects have been formed, mainly in Tokyo and Kanagawa. It is also famous as a specialized training center where young Zen monks of the sect train.

[Akira Suganuma]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

神奈川県南足柄(みなみあしがら)市大雄(だいゆう)町にある曹洞(そうとう)宗の寺。大雄山(だいゆうさん)と号し、道了権現(どうりょうごんげん)、道了尊(そん)、または小田原道了薩埵(さった)ともいわれる。大山(おおやま)不動、川崎大師とともに神奈川県の三大名刹(めいさつ)の一つ。本尊は釈迦牟尼仏(しゃかむにぶつ)。1394年（応永1）了庵慧明(りょうあんえみょう)が弟子の道了薩埵の助力を得て創建。道了薩埵は神通(じんずう)力をもっていたといわれ、師の命によって井戸を掘るうちに鉄印を掘り当て、そこから清泉が湧(わ)き出したと伝えられる。この鉄印は御金印(おかないん)といい、この寺第一の霊宝とされる。最乗寺了庵派16派は関東の曹洞宗のなかで一大勢力をなし、江戸時代末まで栄えた。道了薩埵は道了大権現として崇(あが)められ、師の死後、仏法を守護すべしとして天狗(てんぐ)となったという伝説から、大烏天狗(おおからすてんぐ)信仰を生じ、寺には九葉の羽団扇(はねうちわ)や天狗が履く鉄製の大下駄(げた)が祀(まつ)られている。民間信仰者も多く、東京、神奈川を中心に多数の道了講が結成されている。宗門の若い禅僧が修行する専門道場としても名高い。

［菅沼　晃］

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