Joruriji Temple

This is a Shingon Buddhist temple located in Kamocho Nishio, Kizugawa City, Kyoto Prefecture. It is called Odawarasan Houn-in Temple, and is also commonly known as Kuhon-ji Temple or Kutai-ji Temple. The principal image of the temple is a set of nine Amida Buddha statues. There are various theories about the temple's founding, but it is unclear. According to the Joruriji-ryu Kiji, the temple was built in 1047 (Eisho 2) by the monk Gimei of Taimadera Temple. The Yakushi Buddha statue currently enshrined in the three-story pagoda is the original principal image of the temple, created 60 years before the nine Amida Buddha statues. In 1107 (Kasho 2), the nine-body Amida hall was built as the new main hall. In 1150 (Kyuan 6), a pond was dug and a garden was created by Izu Sojo Eshin, head priest of Kofuku-ji Ichijo-in, which formed the basis for the temple's current appearance. In 1178 (Jisho 2), the bell tower was completed, and in the same year, the three-story pagoda was moved from Ichijo-Omiya, Kyoto (Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City). From the late Heian period through the Kamakura period, various halls were constructed and various religious ceremonies are held here. The temple also had a strong relationship with Kofuku-ji and developed as a training center for esoteric and esoteric Buddhism. In 1343 (Kokoku 4, Koei 2), various halls were destroyed in a fire, but fortunately the main hall (Nine Amida Hall) and the three-story pagoda (both national treasures) escaped the blaze and retain the form of Amida Pure Land faith that was popular during the Heian period. The temple has many treasures, including nine wooden seated statues of Amida Nyorai and four standing wooden statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, which are designated National Treasures. The seated Yakushi Nyorai statue, standing statues of Jizo Bodhisattva, standing statues of Enmei Jizo Bodhisattva, standing statues of Acala and two children, a standing statue of Kichijoten, a standing statue of Bato Kannon, the mural on the first tier of the three-story pagoda, and two stone lanterns are all designated Important National Cultural Properties. The garden is a historic site and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty.

[Masahiro Nomura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

京都府木津川(きづがわ)市加茂町西小(かもちょうにしお)にある真言律宗の寺。小田原山(おだわらさん)法雲院と号し、通称九品寺(くほんじ)、九体寺(くたいじ)ともいう。本尊は九体阿弥陀如来(あみだにょらい)。創建については諸説あるがさだかでない。『浄瑠璃寺流記事』によると、1047年（永承2）當麻寺(たいまでら)の僧義明(ぎめい)が堂宇を建立したと伝える。現在、三重塔内に安置されている薬師(やくし)如来像は、九体阿弥陀如来像より60年前に造顕されたこの寺の初めの本尊である。1107年（嘉承2）には新本堂として九体阿弥陀堂が建立された。1150年（久安6）には興福寺一乗院門跡(もんぜき)伊豆僧正(そうじょう)恵信(えしん)によって池が掘られ、庭園がつくられて、現在の寺観の基礎ができあがった。1178年（治承2）鐘楼が完成。同年京都一条大宮（京都市上京区）から三重塔が移築された。平安後期から鎌倉時代へかけて諸堂が造営され、各種法会(ほうえ)が行われている。興福寺との関係も深く顕密の道場として発展した。1343年（興国4・康永2）火災によって諸堂焼失したが、さいわい、本堂（九体阿弥陀堂）と三重塔（いずれも国宝）は火難を免れ、平安時代に流行した阿弥陀浄土信仰の形式を残している。寺宝は多く、木造阿弥陀如来坐像(ざぞう)9体、木造四天王立像4体は国宝に、薬師如来坐像、地蔵菩薩(ぼさつ)立像、延命地蔵菩薩立像、不動明王および二童子立像、吉祥天(きちじょうてん)立像、馬頭観音(かんのん)立像、三重塔初重壁画、石灯籠(いしどうろう)2基は国重要文化財に指定され、庭園は史跡・特別名勝。

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