Nanto Seven Great Temples - Nanto Seven Great Temples

The seven great temples in and around Heijo-kyo: Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji, Gangoji, Daian-ji, Yakushi-ji, Saidai-ji, and Horyuji. There are also cases where Toshodai-ji is included, excluding Horyuji. During the Asuka period, Daian-ji, Yakushi-ji, Gangoji, and Gufuku-ji were called the four great temples, but after the capital was moved to Nara, Daian-ji, Yakushi-ji, Gangoji, and Kofuku-ji were called the four great temples, and the names Five Great Temples and Six Great Temples were also used. The Seven Great Temples were first mentioned in the Shoku Nihongi (Continuation of the Chronicles of Japan), in which the seventh day after the death of Emperor Shomu, i.e., May 756 (Tenpyo Shoho 8), was when sutras were recited at the Seven Great Temples. They later appeared in the Nihon Koki (Posthumous Chronicles of Japan) in November 796 (Enryaku 15). They are also mentioned in the Shoku Nihongi (Continuation of the Chronicles of Japan), Montoku Jitsuroku (Chronicles of the Three Emperors), Sandai Jitsuroku (Chronicles of the Three Emperors), and Engishiki (The Codex Engishiki), and the names of the Seven Great Temples are recorded in the Fuso Ryakki (Abridged Record of a Pilgrimage to the Seven Great Temples). There are also other documents such as the Shichi Daiji Junrei Shiki (Private Record of a Pilgrimage to the Seven Great Temples), Shichi Daiji Nikki (Diary of the Seven Great Temples), and Shichi Daiji Nenpyo (Annual Table of the Seven Great Temples) (all from the end of the Heian period), and the Shichi Daiji Junrei Ki (Record of a Pilgrimage to the Seven Great Temples) (Muromachi period?).

[Tamura Kosuke]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平城京およびその周辺の七つの大寺。東大寺、興福寺、元興(がんごう)寺、大安(だいあん)寺、薬師(やくし)寺、西大(さいだい)寺、法隆寺。法隆寺を除き唐招提(とうしょうだい)寺を入れた例もある。飛鳥(あすか)時代には大安寺、薬師寺、元興寺、弘福(ぐふく)寺を四大寺と称したが、奈良遷都後は大安寺、薬師寺、元興寺、興福寺を四大寺とよび、ほかに五大寺、六大寺の称も行われた。七大寺は、聖武(しょうむ)天皇の崩じた翌々日および初七日すなわち756年（天平勝宝8）5月に七大寺に誦経(ずきょう)せしめた『続日本紀(しょくにほんぎ)』というのが初めての記載で、その後796年（延暦15）11月『日本後紀(にほんこうき)』などにみえる。『続(しょく)日本後紀』『文徳実録(もんとくじつろく)』『三代実録』や『延喜式(えんぎしき)』などにも言及されており、『扶桑略記(ふそうりゃっき)』に七大寺の寺名が記されている。また、『七大寺巡礼私記』『七大寺日記』『七大寺年表』（以上平安末期）、『七大寺巡礼記』（室町時代？）などがある。

［田村晃祐］

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