Seiganji Temple

Located in Sakurano-cho, Shinkyogoku, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, this is the head temple of the Seizan Fukakusa school of the Jodo sect. It was originally founded in Nara by Eon of the Sanron sect at the request of Emperor Tenchi. After the capital was moved to Heian, it moved to Fukakusa, and then to Motoseiganji-cho, Kamigyo Ward. During the time of Zoshun, the 21st head priest of the Sanron sect, the temple converted to the Jodo sect after being inspired by Honen Shonin Genku. Ryushin, a disciple of Shoku, lived there and built the foundations, and it later became the head temple of the Seizan Fukakusa school. During the Onin period (1467-69), the temple was burned down, but in 1477 (Bunmei 9), Jikkoku attempted to rebuild it, and with the support of Ichijo Kaneyoshi and others, the building was completed in the same year. After four fires, the temple was moved to its current location by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1585 (Tensho 13), and various halls were built by his concubine Matsumaru-dono and the Kyogoku clan. It continued to burn down many times after that, and since the Meiji period, the temple grounds have been reduced in size, especially since it is located in a busy downtown area. Temple treasures include a memorial tower for Izumi Shikibu, a wooden standing statue of Bishamonten (nationally designated Important Cultural Property), three colored silk scrolls of "Seiganji Engi" (same), and one scroll of "Nirvana Statue." It is one of the 25 sacred sites of Enko Daishi (Honen).

[Tamayama Narimoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

京都市中京(なかぎょう)区新京極(しんきょうごく)桜之町にある浄土宗西山深草(せいざんふかくさ)派の総本山。天智(てんじ)天皇の御願で三論宗の恵隠(えおん)が奈良に創建したのに始まる。平安遷都後深草に移り、さらに上京区元誓願寺町に移った。三論宗21世の蔵俊(ぞうしゅん)のとき法然上人(ほうねんしょうにん)源空(げんくう)に帰依(きえ)して浄土宗に改宗。証空(しょうくう)門下の立信(りゅうしん)が住んで基礎を築き、のち西山深草派の本山となる。応仁(おうにん)年間（1467～69）兵火にかかったが、1477年（文明9）十穀(じっこく)が再興を図り、一条兼良(かねら)らの後援もあって同年上棟(じょうとう)。その後四度の火災を経て、1585年（天正13）豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉の命で現地に移し、側室松丸殿および京極氏が諸堂を建立した。その後もしばしば炎上し、明治以降はとくに繁華街であるため寺域が狭められた。寺宝には和泉式部(いずみしきぶ)の供養(くよう)塔や木造毘沙門天(びしゃもんてん)立像（国指定重要文化財）、絹本着色『誓願寺縁起』三幅（同）、『涅槃(ねはん)像』一幅などがある。円光大師（法然）二十五霊場の一つとなっている。

［玉山成元］

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