Myokenji Temple

This is the head temple of the Nichiren sect, located in Myokenji-mae-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City. It is called Gusokuzan, and is also known as Ryuge. The principal image is a mandala wooden statue of Nichiren Tentei. In 1321 (Ganko 1), Nichizo was granted land in Imakoji by Emperor Godaigo and founded the temple. In 1334 (Kenmu 1), it received an imperial decree from Emperor Godaigo and became the first imperially-praised temple of the Nichiren sect. In 1341 (Kokoku 2, Ryakuo 4), it was relocated to Shijo Kushigenishitsura (present-day Nakagyo-ku) by imperial decree of Emperor Kogon-in. Since then, the temple has been called the Shijo Monryu temple. During the Muromachi period, the temple had close ties with the imperial and military government, but was attacked by the monks of Enryaku-ji Temple during the Tenbun-Hokke Rebellion (1536), and was also oppressed by the Oda and Toyotomi clans. The current building was rebuilt during the Edo period. The temple's treasures include two scrolls of messages written by Emperor Gokomatsu, a reply to the letter of the strong man written by Nichiren, two volumes of the Divine King's Book, and five volumes of the Lotus Sutra in Golden Letters (all of which are Important Cultural Properties of Japan). Other treasures include the Genji Denpo Honzon written by Nichiren himself, and 12 volumes of Gosho. The graves of the brothers Ogata Korin and Kenzan are located within the temple grounds.

[Tamura Kosuke]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

京都市上京(かみぎょう)区妙顕寺前町にある日蓮(にちれん)宗の大本山。具足山(ぐそくざん)と号し、またの名を竜華(りゅうげ)という。本尊は日蓮奠定(てんてい)の木像の曼荼羅(まんだら)本尊。1321年（元亨1）日像(にちぞう)が後醍醐(ごだいご)天皇より今小路(いまこうじ)に寺地を賜り創建した。1334年（建武1）には、後醍醐天皇の綸旨(りんじ)を受け、日蓮宗最初の勅願寺となった。1341年（興国2・暦応4）光厳(こうごん)院院宣により四条櫛笥西頬(しじょうくしげにしつら)（現中京(なかぎょう)区）に移転。それ以後、当寺を四条門流という。室町時代には公武政権と密接なつながりをもつが、天文法華の乱（1536）で延暦(えんりゃく)寺衆徒(しゅと)の襲撃を受け、また織田・豊臣(とよとみ)氏の弾圧にあう。現在の建物は江戸時代に再建された。寺宝には後小松(ごこまつ)天皇宸筆(しんぴつ)御消息（2幅）、日蓮筆の強仁状御返事、神国王書（2巻）、金字法華(ほけ)経巻5（いずれも国重要文化財）がある。そのほか、日蓮自筆の玄旨伝法本尊、12巻の御書などを有する。寺域に尾形光琳(こうりん)・乾山(けんざん)兄弟の墓がある。

［田村晃祐］

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