Myo-o-in Temple

This Shingon sect Daikakuji temple is located in Kusado-cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. It has the elegant nickname of Hagi-dera. It is called Chudo-san Enko-ji. The principal image is the Eleven-Headed Kannon Bodhisattva. It is the first temple of the Thirty-Three Pilgrimage Sites of the Bingo Saigoku region. It is said to have been founded by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) in 807 (Daido 2). It was originally called Saiko-san Richi-in Jofuku-ji and was a branch temple of the Shingon Ritsu sect Saidai-ji branch. In 1619 (Genwa 5), ​​Mizuno Katsunari took possession of the temple and repaired and rebuilt the main hall. In 1655 (Meireki 1), the feudal lord Mizuno Katsusada merged it with Myo-o-in Temple, which was located in Aokibana, Honjo Village, and named it Myo-o-in Temple. It also added 48 branch temples and became a prayer temple. The main hall was built in 1321 (Ganko 1), and the five-story pagoda in 1348 (Shohei 3, Sadawa 4), both of which are national treasures. The principal image, a standing statue of the eleven-headed Kannon Bodhisattva, is a secret Buddha said to have been made by Saicho, and is a national important cultural property.

[Akiko Sobue]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

広島県福山市草戸町にある真言(しんごん)宗大覚寺派の寺。萩(はぎ)寺の雅称がある。中道山圓光寺(ちゅうどうさんえんこうじ)と号する。本尊は十一面観世音菩薩(かんぜおんぼさつ)。備後(びんご)西国三十三所霊場第一番札所。807年（大同2）弘法大師(こうぼうだいし)（空海）の開基と伝える。初め西光(さいこう)山理智(りち)院常福(じょうふく)寺と称して真言律宗西大(さいだい)寺派末であった。1619年（元和5）水野勝成(かつなり)が入封し、本堂を修理再興した。1655年（明暦1）藩主水野勝貞(かつさだ)は、本庄(ほんじょう)村青木端(ばな)にあった明王院と合併して、明王院と号し、末寺48寺を付して祈願寺とした。本堂は1321年（元亨1）、五重塔は1348年（正平3・貞和4）の建築で、いずれも国宝。本尊の十一面観世音菩薩立像は最澄(さいちょう)作と伝える秘仏で、国重要文化財である。

［祖父江章子］

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