Honmonji Temple

This is the head temple of the Nichiren sect, located in Ikegami Honmachi, Ota Ward, Tokyo. It is one of the four main temples. Its mountain name is Choeizan. It is commonly known as Ikegami Honmonji. Its origins date back to 1276 (Kenji 2), when the brothers Socho and Sochu renamed the Jibutsu-do (a Buddhist altar) in Ikegami Munenaka's residence to Hokke-do (now Daibo). In September 1282 (Kōan 5), Nichiren came down from Mt. Minobu to treat a chronic illness, and stayed here, naming the temple Choeizan Honmonji, which is how it was founded. Nichiren passed away here on October 13 of the same year. In 1309 (Enkei 2), Nichiro handed over Ikegami Honmon-ji Temple and Kamakura Hikigayatsu Myohon-ji Temple to Nichirin, and Hondo-ji Temple in Hiraga, Shimousa Province (Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture) to Nichiden, and both Ikegami and Hiki temples were under a single head priest until the 74th head priest, Nisshin, appointed a full-time chief priest at Hikigayatsu in 1941 (Showa 16). In an air raid during World War II in May 1945, all temples were burned down except for Nichiren's original handwritten writings, wooden statue of Nichiren, main gate, five-story pagoda (a national important cultural property), sutra repository, and cremation site, but in 1964 (Showa 39), the main hall was built, and later the main hall, Niomon gate, mausoleum, etc. were restored. The Oeshiki ceremony, held on the evening of October 12th, involves an all-night sermon, during which believers pay homage while waving lanterns and beating fan drums.

[Endo Asai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

東京都大田区池上本町にある日蓮(にちれん)宗大本山。四大本山の一つ。山号は長栄山。通称を池上本門寺という。1276年（建治2）池上宗仲の邸内の持仏堂を、宗長・宗仲の兄弟が法華(ほっけ)堂（いまの大坊(だいぼう)）に改めたのが起源で、82年（弘安5）9月持病を治療するために身延(みのぶ)山を下りた日蓮はここに滞留して長栄山本門寺と命名したのが開基。日蓮は同年10月13日ここで入滅した。1309年（延慶2）日朗が池上本門寺、鎌倉比企谷(ひきがやつ)妙本寺を日輪に、下総(しもうさ)国平賀(ひらが)（千葉県松戸市）の本土寺を日伝に譲ってから、74代日慎が1941年（昭和16）に比企谷にも専任住職を置くまでは池上、比企の両寺は一主制であった。45年5月の第二次世界大戦の空襲で日蓮真筆遺文、日蓮木像、総門、五重塔（国重要文化財）、経蔵、荼毘(だび)所を除いて焼失したが、1964年（昭和39）大堂を建立、その後、本殿、仁王門、御廟(ごびょう)所などを復興した。10月12日夜に行われる御会式(おえしき)には、徹夜の説法があり、信者は万灯(まんどう)を掲げ、団扇(うちわ)太鼓を鳴らして参拝する。

［浅井円道］

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