Nanto Hokurei - What a place

Refers to the temple and shrine power that was a major social force in the Middle Ages. Nanto refers to Heijo-kyo, or Nara, the capital of Japan, as opposed to Heian-kyo, which was located to the north, but it also refers in particular to temples such as Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji, and the surrounding areas located in the former outer capital region, which showed urban development in the Middle Ages. It also refers to Kofuku-ji, which was particularly powerful among these temples, and to the temple and shrine power that was the core of it. On the other hand, Hokurei directly refers to Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, but when used collectively as Nanto Hokurei, it can also include Onjo-ji Temple (Mii-dera Temple) and others. In other words, the term Nanto Hokurei is used to describe the overall temple and shrine power that has been nationally revered since the Heian period, boasting a history and legitimacy, and has had enormous power since the Insei period, and has exercised social and political influence. Among them, Kofuku-ji Temple and Enryaku-ji Temple were representative of the core of each.

[Nobuyoshi Kuno]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中世において大きな社会的勢力をなしていた寺社勢力を指す。南都とは、北に位置する平安京に対する平城京すなわち奈良の都をいうが、とくに、中世になって都市的発展をみせたかつての外京地域に位置する東大寺・興福寺などの寺院やその周辺地域を指していう。ひいては、これらの寺院のなかでもとりわけ強大な力を誇った興福寺を、また同寺およびそれを中核とする寺社勢力を意味した。一方、北嶺は直接には比叡山延暦寺のことであるが、南都北嶺と総称する場合には、園城寺(おんじょうじ)（三井寺）などを含むこともある。すなわち、南都北嶺という語は、平安時代以来、国家的崇敬を受けていたという由緒と正統性を誇り、院政期以降には巨大な実力を兼ね備え、社会的政治的影響力を行使した寺社勢力の総体を表現する場合に用いられている。そのなかで興福寺と延暦寺はそれぞれの中核に位置する代表的な存在であった。

［久野修義］

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