Hokyoji Temple

Japanese: 宝鏡寺 - ほうきょうじ

Located in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, this temple was originally of the Rinzai sect and is now an independent temple. Its name is Nishiyama. It is also called Dodogosho and is one of the nuns' palaces. It is said to have begun when Emperor Kogon's daughter, Egon Zenni, rebuilt Fukuniji during the Oan era (1368-75). According to temple legend, the temple was named Hokkyoji because the Kannon statue, the principal image of which, holds a treasured mirror in its hands. Since Emperor Gomizunoo's daughter, Kugon Zenni, entered the temple in 1644 (Shoho 1), princesses continued to enter the temple until the end of the Edo period, and the temple's ties with the imperial family deepened as a nunnery temple. It was destroyed in a great fire in 1788 (Tenmei 8), but was rebuilt with the assistance of Emperor Kokaku.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

京都市上京区にある，もと臨済宗の寺で，現在は単立寺院。西山と号する。百々御所（どどのごしよ）とも呼び，比丘尼御所の一つ。光厳天皇の皇女恵厳禅尼が応安年間(1368‐75)福尼寺を再興したことに始まると伝え，寺伝では本尊の観音が手中に宝鏡を所持したことから，宝鏡寺と称したという。1644年(正保1)後水尾天皇の皇女久厳禅尼の入寺以来，幕末まで皇女の入寺が続き，尼門跡寺院として皇室との関係が深まった。1788年(天明8)の大火で焼失したが，光格天皇の援助で復興。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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