Shojokein Temple

This temple is located in Teramachi-dori Hirokoji-agaru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City. It is one of the four main temples of the Jodo sect. It is called Joka-in for short. In 860 (Jogan 2), it was founded within the Imperial Palace by the imperial wish of Emperor Seiwa, with Jikaku Daishi Ennin as its founder to pray for the protection of the nation. At first, it was a place of study for the four sects of Tendai, Shingon, Butsin, and Kairitsu, but it became a Jodo sect after Emperor Goshirakawa expanded the Juniko-in temple and appointed Honen (Genku) as its chief priest. During the Tensho era (1573-1592), Toyotomi Hideyoshi moved many temples to outside Kyoto, and the temple was rebuilt at its current location. It was destroyed by fire several times after that, but was rebuilt each time under the protection of the imperial family. Because of the strong patronage of the Imperial Family, the temple enshrines statues of Emperors Seiwa and Murakami, as well as the memorial tablets of many other members of the Imperial family. The temple's treasures include a scroll of the colored paper version of the Nakifudo Engi.

[Shoji Mori]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

京都市上京(かみぎょう)区寺町通広小路上ルにある寺。浄土宗四大本山の一つ。浄華院と略称する。860年（貞観2）、清和(せいわ)天皇の勅願により慈覚大師円仁(えんにん)を開山として、鎮護国家を祈願するために御所の内に創建された。初め天台、真言(しんごん)、仏心、戒律の四宗兼学であったが、後白河(ごしらかわ)法皇が十二光院を増建して、その住持に法然(ほうねん)（源空）を補してから浄土宗となった。天正(てんしょう)年間（1573～92）に豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉が多くの寺院を洛外(らくがい)に移すに伴って現在地に移建。その後も数次の火災で焼失したが、そのたびに皇室の加護を受けて再建された。皇室の恩顧厚かったため、清和、村上(むらかみ)両天皇の尊像や、その他多くの皇族の霊牌(れいはい)を祀(まつ)る。寺宝に紙本着色泣不動縁起(なきふどうえんぎ)1巻などがある。

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