Sennyuji Temple

Located in Sennyujiyamauchi-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, this temple is the head temple of the Sennyuji school of the Shingon sect. It is also called Gachirin-san or Tozen, Mitera, and Senzan. The principal deities are Shaka Nyorai, Miroku Bosatsu, and Amida Nyorai. During the Tencho era (824-834), Kukai built Horin-ji Temple, which was later renamed Senyuji, and in 1218 (Kenpo 6), Gachirin Daishi Shunjo rebuilt it and became the founder of the temple. At that time, a pure spring gushed forth from within the temple grounds, and the temple was renamed to its current name. Since then, it has been highly revered by the Imperial Family and has flourished as a place of enlightenment for the Imperial Family and as a training ground for various religious sects. The temple was burned down during the Onin War, but was rebuilt by the fourth Tokugawa Shogun during the Kanbun era (1661-1673). In 1884 (Meiji 17), parts of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, including the throne room and the small abbot's chamber, were moved to the temple, where it remains to this day. Reimeiden Hall, which was rebuilt in 1884, houses the memorial tablets (ihai) of Emperor Shijo and other successive emperors, empresses, and princes. The Miyama Mausoleum contains the tombs of the 87th Emperor Shijo, as well as other emperors, empresses, and empress dowagers. The Buddha Hall, Great Gate, Kaisan Pagoda, and Muho Pagoda are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The temple has many treasures, including the letter of the Suihosho written by Shunsho, the Sennyuji Kan'ensho (commentary on the deity's name), the Emperor Nakamikado's calligraphy, and portraits of Dosen, Gensho, and Shunsho (all designated as Important Cultural Properties). The Sho Kannon (Yang Guifei Kannon) enshrined in the Kannon Hall is famous for its beauty, and is worshipped as the Kannon who brings good luck in marriage and grants wishes. There are nine sub-temples within the temple, including Raigo-in, and the temple is crowded with people on January 15th during the Senzan Seven Lucky Gods Tour.

[Hiromune Mashiba]

"Ancient Temple Pilgrimage: Kyoto 28: Sennyuji Temple" (1978, Tankosha)" ▽ "Sennyuji Temple History" edited by Akamatsu Toshihide and compiled by the head temple, Sennyuji Temple, 2 volumes (1984, Hozokan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

京都市東山区泉涌寺山内町にある真言(しんごん)宗泉涌寺派の総本山。月輪山(がちりんさん)または東山(とうぜん)と号し、御寺(みてら)、泉山(せんざん)とよばれる。本尊は釈迦如来(しゃかにょらい)、弥勒菩薩(みろくぼさつ)、阿弥陀(あみだ)如来。天長(てんちょう)年間（824～834）に空海が法輪寺を建立し、のちに仙遊寺(せんゆうじ)と改称されたのを、1218年（建保6）に月輪大師俊芿(しゅんじょう)が再興して開山となる。そのとき境内から清泉が湧(わ)き出したのに由来して現寺号に改称された。以来、皇室の崇敬厚く、皇室の菩提(ぼだい)所として、また諸宗兼学の道場として栄える。伽藍(がらん)は応仁(おうにん)の乱で焼失したが、徳川4代将軍が寛文(かんぶん)年間（1661～73）に再建し、さらに1884年（明治17）、御座所、小方丈など京都御所の一部を移築し、現在に至っている。1884年に再建された霊明殿には、四条(しじょう)天皇をはじめ歴代天皇、皇后、親王の尊牌(そんぱい)（位牌(いはい)）が安置される。御山陵(さんりょう)には87代四条天皇をはじめ、諸天皇、中宮、皇太后の御陵がある。仏殿、大門、開山塔、無縫(むほう)塔は国の重要文化財。俊芿筆の付法状、泉涌寺勧縁疏(かんえんしょ)（いずれも国宝）、中御門(なかみかど)天皇宸翰(しんかん)、道宣・元照・俊芿の画像（ともに国の重要文化財）など寺宝は多い。観音(かんのん)堂に安置されている聖(しょう)観音（楊貴妃(ようきひ)観音）は美貌(びぼう)で名高く、縁結び、諸願成就(じょうじゅ)の観音として信仰されている。山内に来迎(らいごう)院など九つの塔頭(たっちゅう)があり、1月15日の泉山(せんざん)七福神巡りには人々でにぎわう。

［眞柴弘宗］

『『古寺巡礼　京都28　泉涌寺』（1978・淡交社）』▽『赤松俊秀監、総本山御寺泉涌寺編『泉涌寺史』全2巻（1984・法蔵館）』

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