Zojoji Temple

This is the head temple of the Jodo sect of Buddhism, located in Shiba Park, Minato Ward, Tokyo. Its mountain name is Sanenzan Kodoin. Originally founded by Shuei in Kaizuka, Kioicho, Chiyoda Ward, it was called Komyoin and belonged to the Kogi Shingon sect, but in 1385 (Genchu ​​2, Shitoku 2), Shoso converted to the Jodo sect, and it became a place of learning for the ancient Jodo sect temples in Edo. In 1590 (Tensho 18), during the reign of the 12th head priest, Sonno, the temple became associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had just entered the Kanto region, and moved to the current site as the Tokugawa family's bodai (place of rest for the dead). After 1605 (Keicho 10), it was expanded and constructed to complete the seven halls. In 1608, it became an imperial temple for those who were to wear purple robes, and in 1613, under the protection of the shogunate, it was granted a land of 1,000 koku, which expanded its reach, and it quickly rose from being under the control of Kamakura's Komyo-ji Temple to become the head temple of the Kanto Jodo sect temples, and as the head of the 18 Danrin temples, it controlled the various temples in the Kanto region, and was in fact the most powerful temple in the Jodo sect. Around 1652 (Shoo 1), there were over 120 buildings on the mountain, and it is said that there were as many as 3,000 learned monks. It was destroyed by fire several times, but was rebuilt. After the Meiji Restoration, the temple grounds became Shiba Park, and were destroyed in World War II, with only a few remaining structures such as the Sangedatsumon Gate. However, the temple still houses many paintings and ancient documents, as well as nationally designated Important Cultural Properties such as the Illustrated Biography of Honen Shonin and the Song, Yuan, and Goryeo editions of the Tripitaka donated by Tokugawa Ieyasu.

[Tamayama Narimoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

東京都港区芝公園にある浄土宗の大本山。山号は三縁山広度院(さんえんざんこうどいん)。もと千代田区紀尾井(きおい)町の貝塚に宗叡(しゅうえい)が創建し、光明院といって古義真言(しんごん)宗に属したが、1385年（元中2・至徳2）聖聡(しょうそう)が浄土宗に改宗し、以後、江戸の浄土宗寺院の古刹(こさつ)としてその学問所となった。1590年（天正18）12世存応(ぞんのう)のとき、関東入府後まもない徳川家康と関係をもち、徳川家の菩提(ぼだい)所となって現地に移り、1605年（慶長10）以後に拡張造営されて七堂が完備した。1608年には常紫衣(じょうしえ)の勅願所となり、幕府の保護により13年には寺領1000石を安堵(あんど)されて充実し、鎌倉光明寺の配下より一躍関東浄土宗寺院の総本山となり、十八檀林(だんりん)の冠首として関東の諸寺院を管し、実質的には浄土宗第一の実力をもった。1652年（承応1）ごろの一山には120余の建物が並び、3000名に上る学僧がいたという。数度の火災にあったが復興された。明治維新後、境内は芝公園となり、第二次世界大戦で戦災にあい、三解脱門(さんげだつもん)などわずかを残すだけであるが、『法然上人(ほうねんしょうにん)絵伝』のほか、徳川家康の寄進した宋(そう)版・元版・高麗(こうらい)版の『大蔵経(だいぞうきょう)』などの国指定重要文化財をはじめ、絵画や古文書など多数を蔵する。

［玉山成元］

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