Semuijji Temple

This Shingon Omuro temple is located in Suhara, Yuasa-cho, Arida-gun, Wakayama Prefecture. Its mountain name is Mount Fudarakusan. Its principal image is Senju Kannon. It was founded in 1231 (the 3rd year of the Kanki era). It was founded by Koben (Myo-e), who had a deep understanding of the study and practice of Kegon and Shingon Buddhism. The local powerful Yuasa clan donated the land where Koben trained, and the temple prospered, but was later burned down in a war and fell into ruin. During the Edo period, it was restored to its former state under the patronage of the Kishu Tokugawa family. It is Koben's second most sacred site after Kozan-ji Temple in Kyoto. Both the main hall and the founder's hall were rebuilt in the 1600s. The temple treasures, one volume of a letter of introduction written by Fujiwara Kagemoto and one volume of a donation letter written by Takanobu, are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

[Akiko Sobue]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

和歌山県有田(ありだ)郡湯浅(ゆあさ)町栖原(すはら)にある真言(しんごん)宗御室(おむろ)派の寺。山号は補陀落山(ふだらくさん)。本尊は千手観音(せんじゅかんのん)。1231年（寛喜3）の創建。開基は華厳(けごん)・真言の学と行を深く究めた高弁(こうべん)（明恵(みょうえ)）。土地の豪族湯浅氏は高弁が修行した土地などを寄進して栄えたが、のち兵火で焼失し荒廃。江戸時代に紀州徳川家の外護(げご)を受けて旧に復したという。京都高山(こうざん)寺に次ぐ高弁の霊場。本堂、開山堂はいずれも1600年代の再建。寺宝の藤原景基作置文一巻、高信作施入状一巻は国の重要文化財。

［祖父江章子］

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