Mimurotoji Temple

This Shugen sect temple is located in Todo Shigadani, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture. The mountain name is Myojosan. The principal image is Senjukannon Bodhisattva. It is the 10th temple of the Thirty-Three Temples of the Western Provinces. According to legend, it was founded during the Hoki era (770-780), when Ushoben Inukai brought back a gilt bronze Senjukannon statue that was shining in a rock pool deep in Mt. Mimuroto. Emperor Kōnin ordered the monk Gyōhyō of Nara's Daian-ji Temple to build a temple to enshrine the statue, and named it Omuroto-ji Temple. Later, Emperor Kanmu had a sandalwood statue of Kannon placed inside it as a grand memorial service, and Emperor Sanjo donated the Hokke-do Hall, while Emperor Shirakawa donated the Jogyo-do Hall, and the temple flourished as it was revered by successive emperors. It became a detached palace for the three emperors Kazan, Sanjo, and Shirakawa, and was later renamed Mimuroto-ji Temple, before being rebuilt in its current location in 1487 (Bunmei 19). The current main hall was built in 1814 (Bunka 11). In addition to the wooden statues of Amida Nyorai and his two seated attendants, a standing statue of Bishamonten, and a standing statue of Shaka Nyorai (all from the late Heian period and designated as Important Cultural Properties by the National Government), the temple also has many other treasures, such as the main hall of Juhachijinja Shrine (from the Muromachi period, a National Important Cultural Property) and a three-story pagoda (from the Edo period).

[Nakayama Kiyota]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

京都府宇治市菟道滋賀谷(とどうしがだに)にある本山修験(しゅげん)宗の寺。山号は明星山(みょうじょうさん)。本尊は千手観音菩薩(せんじゅかんのんぼさつ)。西国三十三所第10番札所。縁起では、開創は宝亀(ほうき)年間（770～780）と伝え、右少弁犬養(うしょうべんいぬかい)が御室戸(みむろと)山の奥の岩淵(いわぶち)に光っていた金銅千手観音像を持ち帰り、光仁(こうにん)天皇が奈良大安寺の僧行表(ぎょうひょう)に伽藍(がらん)の造営を命じて祀(まつ)り、御室戸寺と号したのを始まりとする。のち桓武(かんむ)天皇がビャクダンでつくらせた観音像の胎内に金銅の尊像を納めて大供養(くよう)を営み、三条(さんじょう)天皇は法華(ほっけ)堂を、白河(しらかわ)天皇は常行堂を寄進するなど、代々の天皇の尊崇を得て盛んになっていった。花山(かざん)、三条、白河三帝の離宮となってのちに三室戸寺と改号、1487年（文明19）現在地に再興。現本堂は1814年（文化11）に建立したものである。木造の阿弥陀如来(あみだにょらい)像と両脇侍坐像(きょうじざぞう)、毘沙門天(びしゃもんてん)立像、釈迦(しゃか)如来立像（いずれも平安後期、国重要文化財）のほか、十八神社本殿（室町時代、国重要文化財）、三重塔（江戸時代）など寺宝も多い。

［中山清田］

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