Sun image - Nichizo

Japanese: 日像 - にちぞう

Year of death: Kōei 1/Kōkoku 3.11.13 (1342.12.11)
Year of birth: Bun'ei 6 (1269)
A Nichiren sect monk from the late Kamakura period. He was the first Nichiren sect monk to spread his teachings in Kyoto, and built the foundation for the development of the sect with Myoken-ji Temple as its base. He was the founder of Myoken-ji Temple in Kyoto, and was known as Higobou and Higo Ajari. He was from the Hiraga clan of Shimousa Province (Chiba Prefecture). He began his studies under Nichiro at the age of seven. He later became a disciple of Nichiren in Minobu, and was given a complete set of sutras and an image of himself as the principal image. After Nichiren's death, he took on the name Higobou Nichizo and studied under Nichiro. In 1293 (Einin 1), he carried out a missionary mission in Kyoto, travelling through the Hokuriku region while making pilgrimages to Nichiren's ruins, and travelling to Kyoto in 1294. On the way, he persuaded Shingon monks from Noto to surrender, and took the name Nichijo. After moving to Kyoto, they converted many of Kyoto's influential townspeople into their followers, but pressure from Mount Hiei and other sources intensified, and they were oppressed three times, beginning with exile to Tosa in 1307, exile to Kii the following year, and banishment from Kyoto in 1321. This is known as the Three Amnesties. During this time, they did not give in to the persecution, and in 1311 they moved the Hokkedo temple they had built at Ayakoji Omiya to Imakoji in 1321 and founded Myoken-ji Temple. In 1333, at the decree of Prince Morinaga, they prayed for Emperor Go-Daigo's return to Kyoto, and in the following year, in the 1st year of Kenmu, they received an imperial decree from Emperor Go-Daigo to make Myoken-ji a temple of imperial prayer. This small religious organization, which was only based in the eastern part of the country, was now officially recognized by the central government. Then, in 1336, Myoken-ji Temple became a place of prayer for the Muromachi Shogunate and Emperor Kogon of the Northern Court, and it held an unshakable position in the court and military circles. In 1341, Emperor Kogon bestowed upon him a temple site on the western side of Shijo Kushige, and Myoken-ji Temple was moved there. This is why the lineage of Myoken-ji Temple is called the Shijo school. In 1342, he passed away, entrusting his future affairs to his disciple Daikaku. In 1358, Daikaku prayed for rain, and Nichiren was given the title of Daibosatsu, and Nichiro and Nichizo were given the title of Bodhisattva. <References>Complete History of the Nichiren Sect, Vol. 1, compiled by the Nichiren Doctrine Research Institute of Rissho University

(Kaoru Sasaki)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：康永1/興国3.11.13(1342.12.11)
生年：文永6(1269)
鎌倉後期の日蓮宗の僧。日蓮宗最初の京都弘通(布教)を行い,妙顕寺を拠点に教団発展の礎を築いた。京都妙顕寺開山,肥後房,肥後阿闍梨と号す。下総国(千葉県)平賀氏の出自。7歳で日朗に師事。のち身延の日蓮の弟子となり経一丸を賜り本尊を授与される。日蓮の滅後,肥後房日像と名乗り日朗のもとで研鑽。永仁1(1293)年,日蓮の遺命を奉じて京都布教を決行,日蓮の遺跡を巡拝しつつ北陸を経て同2年に上洛した。その途次,能登の真言僧を帰伏させ日乗と名乗らせた。上洛後,京都の有力町衆を信徒と化したが,叡山などの圧力も強まり,徳治2(1307)年の土佐配流をはじめとし翌3年の紀伊流罪,元亨1(1321)年の洛内追放に至る3度の弾圧を受けた。これを三黜三赦と呼んでいる。その間,迫害にめげず延慶4(1311)年に綾小路大宮に造営していた法華堂を元亨1年に今小路に移して妙顕寺を開創。元弘3(1333)年,護良親王の令旨により後醍醐天皇の京都還幸を祈り,翌建武1年に妙顕寺を勅願寺とするという後醍醐天皇の綸旨を得た。東国だけの小教団は,ここで,中央政府の公認を受けた。次いで建武3(1336)年には,室町将軍家・北朝光厳院の祈祷所となるなど,妙顕寺は公武社会に不動の地位を占めた。暦応4(1341)年,光厳院の院宣を受け寺地を四条櫛笥西頬に賜って,妙顕寺をそこに移転。妙顕寺の流れを四条門流と呼ぶゆえんである。康永1(1342)年後事を弟子大覚に託し入寂。延文3(1358)年大覚の祈雨により,日蓮に大菩薩,日朗,日像に菩薩号を賜った。<参考文献>立正大学日蓮教学研究所編『日蓮教団全史』上

(佐々木馨)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

<<: Nichizo - Nichizo

>>: Nikjo Chozan - Nikjo Chozan