Hojoji Temple

This temple was built by Fujiwara no Michinaga in Kyoto in the mid-Heian period, and is now abandoned. It is located between the Kamo River to the east, Tokyo Kyogoku (present-day east side of Kyoto City) to the west, and Konoe (present-day Kojinguchi-dori) to the south. According to the Eiga Monogatari, Michinaga, who was at the height of his prosperity, suffered from illness and became a monk on March 21, 1019 (Kannin 3). On July 16 of the same year, he began construction of Nakagawa Mido (Amida Hall) on the Kamo River east of Tsuchimikado Dai, in order to build a temple to serve as his own monk's quarters, and named it Muryoju-in. He also built the Jusai-do and Sammai-do halls. In 1021 (Jin 1), Michinaga's Kitanokata Norinshi also became a monk, and Seihoku-in was founded. The following year, a ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of the Kondo and Godaido, and the temple was named Hojoji. Afterwards, the Yakushido, the Sammaido and Amakaidan for Fujiwara Kishi, the Empress of Emperor Gosuzaku, and the Shakado with its 100 Buddha statues were constructed one after another. Nine golden Amida statues were placed inside the Amidado, and it is said that in 1027 (Manju 4), Michinaga tied five-colored threads to the Amida Buddha and ended his life surrounded by the sound of Buddhist prayers. After Michinaga's death, construction of buildings such as the Tohokuin continued, but in 1058 (Kohei 1), Hojoji burned down. It was rebuilt by his eldest son, Yorimichi. However, it continued to suffer from fires and earthquakes, and as the power of the Fujiwara clan declined, it fell into decline, eventually being abolished in 1333 (Ganko 3, Shokei 2). The details of this event are recorded in such works as "Eiga Monogatari," "Shoyuki," and "Fuso Ryakki."

[Tamura Kosuke]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安中期、京都に藤原道長が建立した寺で、現在は廃寺。その位置は、東は鴨川(かもがわ)、西は東京極(きょうごく)（現京都市東側）、南は近衛(このえ)（現荒神口通）にあたる。『栄花(えいが)物語』によると、栄華の絶頂期にあった道長は病気に苦しみ、1019年（寛仁3）3月21日に出家、自らの僧房としての寺院の造営のため、同年7月16日、土御門第(つちみかどだい)の東、鴨川畔に中河御堂(みどう)（阿弥陀(あみだ)堂）の造営を始め、無量寿(むりょうじゅ)院と名づけた。さらに十斎堂、三昧(さんまい)堂を建立した。1021年（治安1）には道長の北方(きたのかた)倫子も出家して、西北院が創建された。翌年には金堂、五大堂の落慶供養(らっけいくよう)が営まれ、法成寺と命名された。その後、薬師堂、後朱雀(ごすざく)天皇の中宮藤原嬉子(きし)のための三昧堂・尼戒壇(あまかいだん)、百体仏の釈迦(しゃか)堂などが次々に造営された。阿弥陀堂内には金色阿弥陀像9体が安置され、1027年（万寿4）道長は阿弥陀仏に五色の糸を結び、念仏の声に包まれて生涯を終えたと伝える。道長の死後も東北院などの堂舎造営が続くが、1058年（康平1）法成寺は全焼した。長男頼通(よりみち)が復興。しかし、その後も火災、地震などにみまわれ、さらに、藤原氏の勢力後退に伴って衰微し、1333年（元弘3・正慶2）廃絶した。そのようすは『栄花物語』『小右記(しょうゆうき)』『扶桑(ふそう)略記』などに記されている。

［田村晃祐］

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