Chohoji Temple

A Tendai sect temple in Shimotsu-cho, Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture. Its name is Mount Keitoku. Its principal image is Shaka Nyorai. It is said to have been founded by Tendai's Shoku (910-1007), the founder of Shoshasan Enkyo-ji Temple, at the request of Emperor Ichijo in 1000 (Choho 2). It flourished around the time of its conversion to Shingon Buddhism during the Oei period (1394-1428), when it had seven halls and 12 sub-temples. It gradually fell into decline, but was rebuilt by Tokugawa Yorinobu (1602-71), founder of the Kishu Domain, and made it the family temple of the Kishu Tokugawa clan, converting to Tendai Buddhism and making it a branch temple of Rinnoji Temple. With the exception of the fifth Tokugawa, Yoshimune, and the thirteenth Tokugawa, Yoshitomi (Iemochi), the temple contains the graves of the first to the seventeenth Tokugawa, Yoriaki, as well as the graves of their wives, memorial towers, and many stone lanterns. The Great Gate, built in 1388 (Genchu ​​5, Kakei 2), the main hall, said to have been built in 1311 (Ocho 1), and the two-storied pagoda from the late Kamakura period are designated as national treasures, while the Chinjudo hall, built in 1311, and a colored silk painting of the Buddha's Nirvana from the late Kamakura period are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. There is a history and folklore museum on the grounds.

[Tamura Kosuke]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

和歌山県海南市下津(しもつ)町にある天台宗の寺。慶徳山(けいとくさん)と号する。本尊は釈迦如来(しゃかにょらい)。1000年（長保2）一条(いちじょう)天皇の勅願により、書写(しょしゃ)山円教寺の開創者、天台の性空(しょうくう)（910―1007）が創建したと伝える。応永(おうえい)年間（1394～1428）真言(しんごん)宗に転宗したころ栄え、七堂伽藍(がらん)が並び子院12坊を数えたという。しだいに衰微したが、紀州藩祖徳川頼宣(よりのぶ)（1602―71）が再興、紀州徳川家の菩提寺(ぼだいじ)とし、天台宗に改宗して輪王寺(りんのうじ)末とした。5代吉宗(よしむね)、13代慶福(よしとみ)（家茂(いえもち)）を除き、初代から17代頼韶(よりあき)までの墓、奥方の墓、供養(くよう)塔や多くの石灯籠(いしどうろう)がある。1388年（元中5・嘉慶2）建立の大門、1311年（応長1）建立と伝える本堂、鎌倉後期の多宝塔は国宝に、1311年建立の鎮守堂および鎌倉後期の絹本着色仏涅槃(ぶつねはん)図は国の重要文化財に指定されている。境内に歴史民俗資料館がある。

［田村晃祐］

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