Hannyaji Temple

This Shingon Ritsu temple is located in Hannyaji-cho, Nara City. Its name is Mount Hossho. Its principal image is the Bodhisattva Manjusri, commonly known as Manjusri-san. It is an ancient temple said to have been founded in 625 (the 33rd year of the reign of Empress Suiko) by the Goguryeo monk Ekan. In 654 (the 5th year of Hakuchi), Soga no Himuka no Omi built a monastery to pray for the recovery of Emperor Kotoku from illness. In 735 (the 7th year of Tenpyo), Gyoki built a temple building by imperial order of Emperor Shomu, and it was designated as a Jogaku temple to protect against evil spirits. Around 895 (Kanpei 7), the monk Kanken Sojo restored the temple, making it famous as a temple of learning, but it was completely burned down in a fire caused by the Genpei War in 1180 (Jisho 4). In the Kamakura period, a thirteen-story stone pagoda (a national important cultural property) was constructed, and Eison rebuilt the main hall, enshrining a 18-foot-tall statue of Manjusri Bodhisattva as the principal image in 1267 (Bun'ei 4). The current principal image, a statue of Manjusri Bodhisattva riding a lion (a national important cultural property), was created in 1324 (Shochu 1) by the two Buddhist sculptors Koshun and Kosei to pray for the direct rule of Emperor Godaigo. Hannya-ji Temple has a deep connection with the Southern Court, and it is well known that Prince Moriyoshi of Daito-ji Temple hid in a Chinese chest during the conflict between the Northern and Southern Courts. During the Muromachi period, the Monju-do Hall and Jizo-do Hall were burned down, and in 1567 (Eiroku 10), the temple lost its central temple building in a conflict between Matsunaga Danjo and the Miyoshi Trio, leading to its decline. The tower gate is a relic from the Kamakura period and is a national treasure. In addition, the temple has many treasures designated as Important Cultural Properties, including two stupas (kasatoba) made by Song stonemason Igyo-kichi, a sutra repository, and an imperial plaque on the temple gate. In addition, the items found inside the thirteen-story stone pagoda during its dismantling and repair in 1964 (Showa 39) have all been designated Important Cultural Properties.

[Oshika Saneaki]

"Ancient Temple Pilgrimage: Nara 5: Hannya-ji Temple" (1957, Tankosha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

奈良市般若寺町にある真言(しんごん)律宗の寺。法性山(ほっしょうざん)と号する。本尊は文殊菩薩(もんじゅぼさつ)。俗に文殊さんともよばれる。625年（推古天皇33）高句麗(こうくり)僧慧灌(えかん)の創建と伝える古刹(こさつ)で、654年（白雉5）蘇我日向臣(そがのひむかのおみ)が孝徳(こうとく)天皇の病気平癒を祈願して伽藍(がらん)を建立、さらに735年（天平7）に聖武(しょうむ)天皇の勅命により行基(ぎょうき)が堂塔を造営、鬼門鎮護の定額(じょうがく)寺に定められた。895年（寛平7）ころ観賢僧正(かんけんそうじょう)が中興、学問寺の名を高めたが、1180年（治承4）源平の兵火によりすべてを焼失した。鎌倉時代に入り石造十三重塔（国重要文化財）が造営され、さらに叡尊(えいぞん)が本堂を再建、1267年（文永4）丈六の文殊菩薩像を本尊として安置した。現本尊の文殊菩薩騎獅(きし)像（国重要文化財）は1324年（正中1）後醍醐(ごだいご)天皇親政を祈願して康俊(こうしゅん)・康成(こうせい)二仏師によりつくられたもの。般若寺と南朝との結び付きは深く、南北朝の争いで大塔宮護良(もりよし)親王が唐櫃(からびつ)に身を隠して難を逃れた話は有名。室町時代に文殊堂、地蔵堂などを焼失、さらに1567年（永禄10）松永弾正(だんじょう)と三好(みよし)3人衆の争いで中心伽藍を失い衰微した。楼門は鎌倉時代の遺構で国宝。そのほか宋(そう)の石工伊行吉(いぎょうきつ)作の笠塔婆(かさとうば)二基、経蔵(きょうぞう)、寺門勅額など国重要文化財指定の寺宝が多い。また1964年（昭和39）の十三重石塔解体修理に際して塔内から出現した納入物は一括して国重要文化財に指定されている。

［大鹿実秋］

『『古寺巡礼　奈良5　般若寺』（1957・淡交社）』

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