Shinshoji Temple

This is the head temple of the Shingon sect Chisan school in Narita, Narita City, Chiba Prefecture. It is known by its mountain name, Naritasan, and is commonly referred to as Narita Fudo. The principal image of the statue, Acala Myo-o, was carved by Kobo Daishi Kukai by imperial order of Emperor Saga during the Heian period and enshrined at Takao-san Jingoji Temple in Kyoto. In 939 (Tenkei 2), during the Taira no Masakado Rebellion, Emperor Suzaku ordered the great priest Kanjo to have the statue placed in a temple in Kozugahara, Shimousa Province (Namiki-cho, Narita City), where a goma ritual was performed for 37 days (21 days) to subdue the enemy of the emperor. The rebellion was put down the following year, in 940, and Kancho made the site a sacred place, bestowed the temple name Shinshoji, and founded the temple. In 1705 (Hoei 2), Shohan, the founder of the restoration, moved the temple to its current location via Narita Koyakushi, and with the donation of temple land and Shoden land from Inaba Tangonokami, lord of Sakura Castle, the temple built the foundation for becoming the Kanto region's leading sacred place. During the Genroku period (1688-1704), an exhibition of the temple's works was held in Fukagawa, Edo, and gradually pilgrimages to Narita became an established custom among the people, and the temple developed significantly as the center of Fudo Myo-o faith.

Currently, the temple grounds, including Naritasan Park that continues into the grounds, cover an area of ​​approximately 220,000 square meters, and include the new main hall, which was completed in 1968 (Showa 43), the Shakado Hall, Komyodo Hall (old main hall), the three-story pagoda, the Niomon Gate, the Gakudo Hall, and the Okunoin. The 58-meter-tall Great Pagoda, which was completed in 1983, houses various statues that are the pinnacle of esoteric Buddhist art. Successive chief priests have focused on educational, cultural, and welfare projects, establishing schools, kindergartens, libraries, child welfare facilities, and local history museums, as well as eight branch temples and many branch temples across the country. There are many annual events, such as the Gancho Great Prayer Meeting, Hatsu Fudo, Setsubun, Gion, and O-Fudo. There is a constant stream of visitors throughout the year, and those who pray for the fulfillment of their wishes are given a goma amulet after undergoing goma training.

[Oshika Saneaki]

"The History of Narita Fudo" by Shigeyoshi Murakami (1968, Totsusha Publishing Department)" ▽ "Naritasan Shinshoji Temple" by Masashi Ohno (1978, Ronshobo)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

千葉県成田市成田にある真言(しんごん)宗智山(ちさん)派の大本山。山号の成田山で知られ、成田不動と通称される。本尊の不動明王は、平安時代、嵯峨(さが)天皇の勅命により弘法(こうぼう)大師空海が刻して京都高雄山神護寺(じんごじ)に奉安されていたもの。939年（天慶2）平将門(まさかど)の乱のとき、朱雀(すざく)天皇は寛朝(かんじょう)大僧正に命じてこの像を下総国(しもうさのくに)公津ヶ原(こうづがはら)（成田市並木町）の堂宇に捧持(ほうじ)させ、三七日（21日間）朝敵調伏(ちょうぶく)の護摩(ごま)を修したという。翌940年に乱は平定、寛朝はこの地を霊場とし、新勝寺の寺号を授けられて開山。1705年（宝永2）中興の祖照範(しょうはん)により成田古薬師を経て現在地に移転、佐倉城主稲葉丹後守(たんごのかみ)から寺領・荘田(しょうでん)の寄進を受け、関東第一の霊場となる礎(いしずえ)を築いた。元禄(げんろく)年間（1688～1704）江戸深川に出開帳が行われたりして、しだいに成田詣(もう)でが民衆の習俗として定着し、不動尊信仰の中心として著しい発展を遂げた。

　現在、境内に続く成田山公園を含め約22万平方メートルの寺域には、1968年（昭和43）に完成した新本堂のほか、釈迦(しゃか)堂・光明堂（旧本堂）、三重塔、仁王門、額堂、奥の院などが建つ。1983年に完成した高さ58メートルの大塔内には密教美術の粋を誇る諸尊像が安置されている。歴代の住職が教育文化福祉事業に力を入れ、学校、幼稚園、図書館、児童養護施設、郷土史料館なども設立するほか、全国に8別院と多くの末寺を有する。元朝(がんちょう)大祈祷(きとう)会、初不動、節分会(せつぶんえ)、祇園会(ぎおんえ)、納不動など年中行事も多い。年間を通して参詣(さんけい)者が絶えることなく、諸願成就を祈る人々には護摩修行をして護摩札が授けられる。

［大鹿実秋］

『村上重良著『成田不動の歴史』（1968・東通社出版部）』▽『大野政治著『成田山新勝寺』（1978・崙書房）』

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