Ban'anji Temple

It is the head temple of the Dainichi sect of the Shingon sect, located in Ietomi-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture. Its name is Kongo-san Niou-in Hokkebo. Its principal image is Dainichi Nyorai. It is the 28th temple of the Thirty-Three Temples of Shimotsuke. It is said to have begun in 1196 (Kenkyu 7) when Ashikaga Yoshikane became a monk in his later years, took the name Hokkebo Ban'a, and built a Jibutsu-do (a hall for Buddhist saints), the current Omido (main hall), and a bell tower, at the Ashikaga family residence. It is said that later, the Issaikyo-do (all sutra halls), Nakamido (middle hall), Tahoto (two-tiered pagoda), and mountain gate were constructed, and the seven halls were arranged. Yoshikane's son Yoshiuji established 12 sub-temples outside the moat. The main hall and bell tower are from the original construction, and the main hall is a national treasure, while the scripture repository is a national important cultural property. Temple treasures include a pair of celadon incense burners and vases, eight volumes of the Lotus Sutra inscribed in kana on paper, and a gilt bronze hanging Buddha (all national important cultural properties). The temple's collection of over 600 ancient documents related to the Ashikaga clan is invaluable historical material for research into Japan's medieval history. The annual procession of armored warriors (Yoroi Toshikoshi), held on Setsubun, is famous.

[Hiromune Mashiba]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

栃木県足利(あしかが)市家富(いえとみ)町にある真言(しんごん)宗大日(だいにち)派本山。金剛山仁王院法華坊(こんごうさんにおういんほっけぼう)と号する。本尊は大日如来(にょらい)。下野(しもつけ)三十三か所第28番札所。1196年（建久7）足利義兼(よしかね)が晩年に出家して法華坊鑁阿と号し、足利氏邸宅に持仏堂すなわち現在の大御堂(おおみどう)（本堂）と鐘楼を建立したのに始まるという。のち一切経堂、中御堂、多宝塔、山門などを造営、七堂伽藍(がらん)を整えたといわれる。義兼の子義氏(よしうじ)は堀の外に12の塔頭(たっちゅう)支院を置いた。本堂と鐘楼は創建当初のもので、本堂は国宝、経蔵は国重要文化財。寺宝に青磁の香炉・花瓶一対、紙本墨書仮名法華経(ほけきょう)八巻、金銅鑁字懸仏(かけぼとけ)（以上、国重文）などがある。所蔵の足利氏関係の古文書600余通はわが国中世史研究の貴重な史料である。毎年節分に行う鎧武者(よろいむしゃ)行列（鎧年越(としこし)）は有名。

［眞柴弘宗］

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