Nyoirinji Temple

This is a Jodo sect temple located in Yoshinoyama, Yoshino-cho, Yoshino-gun, Nara Prefecture. It is called Tono-ozan Chinkai-in and enshrines Nyoirin Kannon as its principal image. It is said to have been founded by Nichizo Doken during the Engi era (901-923). It is well known that in 1347 (Shohei 2, Sadawa 3) during the Nanboku-cho period, Kusunoki Masatsura and his family members, preparing to die, visited this temple, cut off their topknots, inscribed their names on the wall, and wrote a death poem on the door with an arrowhead: "When I think of my future, I will leave my name in the number of those who do not have an Azusa bow." The temple grounds include the topknot mound and the tower mausoleum of Emperor Godaigo behind the hall, and the temple treasures include many items related to the emperor. The Zushiiri Zao Gongen statue (Muromachi period) is a national important cultural property.

[Shoji Mori]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

奈良県吉野(よしの)郡吉野町吉野山にある浄土宗の寺。塔尾山(とうのおざん)椿花院(ちんかいん)と号し、如意輪観音を本尊とする。草創は延喜(えんぎ)年間（901～923）日蔵道賢(にちぞうどうけん)によると伝えられる。南北朝時代の1347年（正平2・貞和3）楠木正行(くすのきまさつら)の一族郎党は最後の戦いに臨み、死を覚悟して当寺に詣(もう)で、髻(もとどり)を切り、壁板に名を録して、正行が扉に鏃(やじり)で「かゑらじとかねておもへば梓弓(あずさゆみ)なき数に入る名をぞとどむる」との辞世の歌を書き残した、という話はよく知られている。境内にはその髻塚や、堂の後ろに後醍醐(ごだいご)天皇の塔尾陵があり、寺宝には天皇ゆかりの品が多い。厨子入蔵王権現(ずしいりざおうごんげん)像（室町時代）は国の重要文化財。

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