Zentsuji

This temple is the head temple of the Zentsuji school of the Shingon sect, located in Zentsuji-cho, Zentsuji City, Kagawa Prefecture. It is called Gogakusan Tanjo-in. The principal image is the Medicine Buddha. It is the 75th temple of the 88 Shikoku temples. It is counted among the three major sacred sites of Kobo Daishi Kukai, along with Kongobu-ji Temple on Mount Koya and To-ji Temple (Kyoogokoku-ji Temple) in Kyoto. The temple name comes from the fact that this is the place where Kukai was born. After returning from China, Kukai received imperial permission to establish the Shingon sect in 807 (Daido 2), and converted his father Saeki Yoshimichi's residence into a temple. It was completed six years later in 813 (Kōnin 4), and was named Zentsuji after his father. Since then, it has been a training center for Shingon esoteric Buddhism. Around 1000 (Choho 2), it became affiliated with Toji Temple, the center of Shingon Buddhism, and shortly thereafter it became known as the main temple branch temple and was important among the branch temples of Toji Temple. In 1229 (Kanki 1), it became a branch temple of Zuishin-in Monzeki in Kyoto along with the nearby Mandala Temple, and with the protection of the Sanuki provincial governor, the temple's fortunes improved. It was burned down in 1340 (Ryakuo 3), but was rebuilt over a period of 22 years by Yuhan, who is said to be the founder of the temple's revival. However, these buildings and pagodas were also destroyed in a fire in 1558 (Eiroku 1). After that, successive resident monks worked hard to rebuild the temple with the assistance of the Matsudaira clan, lords of Takamatsu Domain, and the Yamazaki clan, lords of Marugame Domain. Currently, the 10,000m2 grounds include the main hall (Yakushido), the Mie-do Hall that enshrines the great monk Shunmoku, and the five-story pagoda. The temple treasures include the Lotus Sutra's "One Character, One Buddha" prologue, the gilt bronze shakujo (scepter) that is said to have been brought by Kukai from the Tang Dynasty (all national treasures), a wooden standing statue of Kichijoten, a wooden standing statue of Jizo Bodhisattva, and a map of the Zentsuji temple grounds and temple grounds (all national important cultural properties). There are many treasures related to Kukai. The main events include the Shusho-e on New Year's Day, the Setsubun-e on February 3rd, the Daieyo (naked festival) held on the Saturday and Sunday closest to the 20th of the lunar New Year, the Shomieku on March 20th and 21st, the Gotanjo-e on June 14th and 15th, and the Eitai Dosha-kaji on October 20th and 21st.

[Akiko Sobue]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

香川県善通寺市善通寺町にある真言(しんごん)宗善通寺派の総本山。五岳(ごがく)山誕生院と号する。本尊は薬師如来(にょらい)。四国八十八か所第75番札所。高野山金剛峯寺(こうやさんこんごうぶじ)、京都東寺(とうじ)（教王護国寺）とともに弘法(こうぼう)大師空海の三大霊跡に数えられる。院号は当地が空海の生地であることによる。唐から帰朝した空海は807年（大同2）に真言宗の立教開宗の勅許を得たので、父佐伯善通(さえきよしみち)の邸宅を寺に改め、6年後の813年（弘仁4）に竣工(しゅんこう)、父の名をとって善通寺と称したのに始まるという。以来真言密教の道場となった。1000年（長保2）ころには真言宗の中心、東寺に属し、その後まもなく、東寺末寺のなかでも本寺別院とよばれて重きをなした。1229年（寛喜1）に近くの曼陀羅(まんだら)寺とともに京都随心院門跡の末寺となってからは讃岐(さぬき)国司の保護もあって寺運も向上した。1340年（暦応3）に焼亡したが、中興の祖といわれる宥範(ゆうはん)が実に22年の歳月をかけて復興。しかしこれらの堂塔も1558年（永禄1）に兵火で焼失した。以後代々の住僧が高松藩主松平氏、丸亀(まるがめ)藩主山崎氏の援助を得て再建に努めた。現在3万坪の境内には本堂（薬師堂）、瞬目(しゅんもく)大師を祀(まつ)る御影(みえ)堂、五重塔などがある。寺宝には一字一仏法華経序品(ほけきょうじょぼん)、空海が唐より将来したと伝える金銅錫杖(しゃくじょう)（以上、国宝）、木造吉祥天(きちじょうてん)立像、木造地蔵菩薩(ぼさつ)立像、善通寺伽藍并寺領絵図（以上、国の重要文化財）なで空海関係の宝物が多い。おもな行事には元旦(がんたん)の修正会(しゅしょうえ)、2月3日の節分会、旧正月20日に近い土・日曜に行われる大会陽(だいえよう)（裸祭り）、3月20、21日の正御影供(しょうみえく)、6月14、15日の御誕生会、10月20、21日の永代土砂加持(どしゃかじ)などがある。

［祖父江章子］

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