Shojoji Temple

This Shingon sect temple is located in Katsutsune, Yukawa Village, Kawanuma County, Fukushima Prefecture. It is called Rurikozan and its principal image is Yakushi Nyorai. Of the Aizu Five Yakushi, this temple is known as the Aizu Central Yakushido. It is also the first temple of the Aizu Thirty-Three Kannon Temples. It is an old temple in the Tohoku region that is said to have been founded in 807 (Daido 2) by Tokuitsu Shonin of the Hosso sect. At its peak, it had seven halls and many sub-temples, but it fell into decline after being burned down during the Tensho era (1573-1592). The Yakushido (former lecture hall) was built in the Muromachi period and is designated as a national important cultural property. The Kannon Hall and the main temple kuri (kitchen quarters) were built in the Edo period. The temple houses many Buddhist statues from the early Heian period, which are rare in the Tohoku region. The wooden Yakushi Nyorai and its two attendant statues are designated national treasures, while the standing statue of Shokannon, the standing statue of Juichimen Kannon, two standing statues of Jizo Bodhisattva, four standing statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, and the standing statues of Tenbu are designated national important cultural properties.

[Masahiro Nomura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

福島県河沼郡湯川村勝常にある真言(しんごん)宗豊山(ぶざん)派の寺。瑠璃光(るりこう)山と号する。本尊は薬師如来(やくしにょらい)。会津五薬師のうち、当寺は会津中央薬師堂の名で知られる。また会津三十三観音(かんのん)霊場第1番札所。807年（大同2）法相(ほっそう)宗の徳一上人(とくいつしょうにん)が創建したといわれる東北地方の古刹(こさつ)で、盛時は七堂伽藍(しちどうがらん)を備え、多くの子院を有したが、天正(てんしょう)年間（1573～92）の兵火で衰えた。薬師堂（元講堂）は室町時代の建立で、国重要文化財に指定されている。観音堂、本坊庫裡(くり)は江戸時代の建築である。東北地方には数少ない平安前期の仏像を多く蔵し、木造薬師如来および両脇侍像は国宝、聖観音立像、十一面観音立像、地蔵菩薩(ぼさつ)立像2躯(く)、四天王立像4躯、天部立像は国重要文化財に指定されている。

［野村全宏］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例