Zenpoji Temple

This temple is located in Shimokawa, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. It is a branch temple of the Soto sect's main temple, Sojiji, and is also commonly known as "Oyama's Zenpoji Temple." The mountain name is Ryutakuyama. The principal image is Yakushi Nyorai. It originated from the Tendai sect's Ryugeji Temple, which was founded by Myotatsu Shonin around the time of Tengyō and Tenryaku (938-957). During the Enkei era (1308-11), the second head priest of Sojiji, Gazan Joseki, preached at the old site of Ryugeji, and later during the Eikyou era (1429-41), the seventh head priest's grandson, Tainen Jochin, restored the temple and built various halls in accordance with his will. It is believed that the temple adopted the Soto sect and changed its name to Zenpo-ji at this time. It is said that at the time of the temple's founding and restoration, two dragon gods appeared, bestowed the temple with a Buddhist title, and then drowned themselves in the Kaibaminoike pond on the temple grounds. This is one of Japan's leading temples in dragon god worship, and many believers from the fishing industry have long prayed for safe voyages and good catches. It houses "A Picture of Wang Zhaojun" (a prefectural cultural property) by Hishida Shunso.

[Nakayama Kiyota]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

山形県鶴岡(つるおか)市下川にある寺。曹洞(そうとう)宗本山総持寺の直末寺で、通称「大山(おおやま)の善宝寺」ともいう。山号は龍沢山(りゅうたくさん)。本尊は薬師如来(にょらい)。天慶(てんぎょう)・天暦(てんりゃく)（938～957）のころ妙達上人(みょうたつしょうにん)が創建した天台宗の龍華(りゅうげ)寺を起源とする。延慶(えんけい)年間（1308～11）に本山総持寺の2世峨山紹碩(がざんじょうせき)禅師が龍華寺の旧跡で教化を垂れ、のち永享(えいきょう)年間（1429～41）に禅師7世の法孫、太年浄椿(たいねんじょうちん)禅師が遺志を継承して復興し諸堂を建立した。このとき曹洞宗に、また寺号を善宝寺に改めたとみられる。開創また再興のときに二竜神が姿を現し、法号を授けて寺内の貝喰池(かいばみのいけ)に身を沈めたという伝承をもつわが国有数の竜神信仰の寺で、昔から航海安全、大漁を祈願する漁業関係の信者が多い。菱田春草(ひしだしゅんそう)筆「王昭君の図」（県指定文化財）がある。

［中山清田］

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