Toji-in Temple

A temple of the Tenryuji school of the Rinzai sect located in Tojiin Kitamachi, Kita Ward, Kyoto City. It is called Mannenzan. The principal image is Shakyamuni Buddha. In 1341 (Kokoku 2, Ryakuo 4), Ashikaga Takauji invited Muso Soseki to found the temple, which was originally located in Nijo Takakura and called Toji Temple. When Takauji died in 1358 (Shohei 13, Enbun 3), he was buried here, and his posthumous name was changed to Tojiin-den and the temple name was changed to Tojiin. Since then, it has flourished as a mausoleum for successive generations of the Ashikaga clan, and is ranked first among the Ten Temples. The current main hall (Hojo) was moved from a subtemple of Myoshinji Temple and is an old building erected by Fukushima Masanori in 1616 (Genwa 2). Wooden statues of the successive generals of the Ashikaga clan, including Takauji, are enshrined in the Reikoden Hall. The temple treasure, the Tojiji picture map, is a national important cultural property. Within the temple grounds is a garden said to have been created by Muso Kokushi, and the Seiren-tei teahouse.

[Akira Suganuma]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

京都市北区等持院北町にある臨済(りんざい)宗天竜寺派の寺。万年山と号する。本尊は釈迦牟尼(しゃかむに)仏。1341年（興国2・暦応4）足利尊氏(あしかがたかうじ)が夢窓疎石(むそうそせき)を招いて開創、初め二条高倉にあって等持寺と称した。1358年（正平13・延文3）尊氏が没するとこの寺に葬り、法名を等持院殿と号し、寺名も等持院と改めた。以来、足利家歴代の廟所(びょうしょ)として栄え、十刹(じっさつ)の第一位とされた。現本堂（方丈）は妙心寺塔頭(たっちゅう)から移建されたもので、1616年（元和2）福島正則(まさのり)が建立した古建築である。尊氏以下、足利氏歴代将軍の木像が霊光殿に安置されている。寺宝の等持寺絵図は国重要文化財。境内には夢窓国師作と伝える庭園、茶室清連(せいれん)亭がある。

［菅沼　晃］

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