Fukushoji Temple

This is the head temple of the Suma-dera branch of the Shingon sect, located in Suma-dera-cho, Suma-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. The mountain name is Ueno-san. It is commonly known as Suma-dera. The principal image is the Bodhisattva Kannon. According to temple legend, during the Tencho era (824-834), a fisherman pulled a sandalwood statue of the Bodhisattva Kannon from the sea off Wadamisaki in Kobe, enshrined it on Mount Ege, and named the temple Hokuho-ji. It is said that the temple was founded in 886 (Ninna 2) when Emperor Koko had a dream in which he ordered Monkyo Shonin to build and enshrine the temple's halls and pagodas. Afterwards, the temple experienced several ups and downs, but was revived by Minamoto no Yorimasa and Toyotomi Hideyori, and during the Edo period, it held a land of 16 koku 4 to. It fell into decline after the Meiji Restoration, but was restored after 1887 (Meiji 20). The main hall's Naikuden and Buddhist altar, a wooden standing statue of the Eleven-Headed Kannon, and a colored silk statue of the female Fugen Jurasetu (Fugen Jurasetu) are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. There are also remains related to the Genpei War, such as the Aoba Fue (green leaf flute) that was treasured by Taira no Atsumori. Within the temple grounds are the Yoshitsune's seated pine tree, Atsumori's grave, and the Genpei Garden, which is said to have recreated the scene of the one-on-one battle between Atsumori and Kumagai Naozane. The temple has also been loved by writers since ancient times, and there are many stone monuments with haiku and tanka poems. The Kobo Daishi (Kukai) festival on the 21st of every month is very lively.

[Akiko Sobue]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

兵庫県神戸市須磨(すま)区須磨寺町にある真言(しんごん)宗須磨寺派の大本山。山号は上野山(じょうやさん)。通称須磨寺。本尊は聖観音菩薩(しょうかんのんぼさつ)。寺伝によれば天長(てんちょう)年間（824～834）漁師が神戸の和田岬の海中から檀木(だんぼく)の聖観音像を引き上げ会下山(えげのやま)に安置して北峰(ほくほう)寺と称した。886年（仁和2）光孝(こうこう)天皇の霊夢により、聞鏡上人(もんきょうしょうにん)に勅して堂塔伽藍(がらん)を建立し安置したのが開基と伝える。その後幾たびか盛衰があったが、源頼政(よりまさ)、豊臣秀頼(とよとみひでより)が中興し、江戸時代には寺領十六石四斗を有していた。明治維新後衰えたが、1887年（明治20）以降復興した。本堂内宮(ないくう)殿および仏壇、木造十一面観音立像、絹本着色普賢十羅刹(ふげんじゅうらせつ)女像は国の重要文化財。また平敦盛(あつもり)の愛蔵した青葉笛など源平関係の遺品がある。境内には義経(よしつね)腰掛松、敦盛首塚、敦盛と熊谷直実(くまがいなおざね)の一騎討ちの場面を再現したという源平の庭がある。また古来、文人に愛された寺で、多くの句碑・歌碑が立つ。毎月21日の弘法大師(こうぼうだいし)（空海）の縁日はにぎわう。

［祖父江章子］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例