Hofukuji Temple

Located in Ijirino, Soja City, Okayama Prefecture, this temple is of the Tofukuji school of the Rinzai sect. It is called Iyama and commonly known as Sesshu-ji Temple. It was originally a Tendai temple founded by Zen master Donan during the Joei era (1232-33), but is said to have become a Zen temple during the reign of Emperor Shijo (1232-42). During the Eikyou era (1429-41), Sesshu was ordained at the age of 12 and trained here before moving on to Shokoku-ji Temple in Kyoto. The pillars on the Buddhist altar in front of the main hall are said to date back to when the young monk Sesshu was tied up and drew a mouse at his feet with his tears. During the Muromachi period, it was burned down, leaving only the three-story pagoda (a national treasure). It was rebuilt during the Edo period. The temple treasures include a colored silk statue of Jizo Bodhisattva, said to have been made by Shutoson of the Ming Dynasty, and statues of the Ten Kings (both national important cultural properties).

[Akira Suganuma]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

岡山県総社(そうじゃ)市井尻野(いじりの)にある臨済(りんざい)宗東福寺派の寺。井山(いやま)と号し、俗称は雪舟(せっしゅう)寺。貞永(じょうえい)年間（1232～33）に鈍庵(どんあん)禅師を開山として創建された天台宗の寺であったが、四条(しじょう)天皇（在位1232～42）のころ禅寺となったと伝えられる。永享(えいきょう)年間（1429～41）雪舟が12歳で得度し、やがて京都相国(しょうこく)寺に上るまで修行をした寺で、本堂正面仏壇にある柱は、少年僧雪舟がくくり付けられて涙で足元に鼠(ねずみ)を描いたときのものと伝えられる。室町時代に兵火にかかり三重塔（国重文）のみを残して焼失。江戸時代に復興された。寺宝に明(みん)の周東村(しゅうとうそん)作と伝える絹本着色地蔵菩薩(ぼさつ)像、同十王像（いずれも国重文）がある。

［菅沼　晃］

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