Myokokuji Temple

This is the head temple of the Nichiren sect, located in Zaimokucho, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. The temple name is Kofuzan. It is commonly known as Sotetsuji Temple. For the sake of Miyoshi Yukiyasu's (Jikkyū) soul, his brother Yoshinaga donated Yukiyasu's villa, and the wealthy Sakai merchant Aburaya Jōgon built the temple, which was completed in 1568 (Eiroku 11). Jōgon's son, Busshin'in Nichikō (1532-98), was the founding priest. Nichikō set up a study room within the temple, and together with former Eizan scholars Nissen and Nittai, he lectured on the three major Tendai sect teachings, including "The Lotus Sutra's Mystery." This was called Sanko Mushie, and it was the turning point for the sect to change its approach from shakubuku to shoju. It was burned down during the Summer Siege of Osaka (1615), but was soon rebuilt. It was burned down again during World War II, and was rebuilt in 1973 (Showa 48). Within the temple grounds is a large 1,100-year-old cycad (a natural monument) that is said to have been transplanted from Goryeo.

[Endo Asai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大阪府堺(さかい)市材木町にある日蓮(にちれん)宗本山。山号は広普山(こうふざん)。俗に蘇鉄(そてつ)寺という。三好之康(ゆきやす)（実休）の菩提(ぼだい)のため、弟の義長が之康の別荘を寄進し、堺の豪商油屋常言(あぶらやじょうごん)が堂舎を造立して、1568年（永禄11）に落成。常言の子仏心院(ぶっしんいん)日珖(にちこう)（1532―98）を開山とする。日珖は寺内に学室を設け、もと叡山(えいざん)学僧の日詮(にっせん)、日諦(にったい)とともに『法華玄義(ほっけげんぎ)』など天台三大部を講義した。これを三光無師会(さんこうむしえ)といい、宗風がそれまでの折伏(しゃくぶく)から摂受(しょうじゅ)に転ずる機縁をつくった。大坂夏の陣（1615）に焼けたが、まもなく復興した。第二次世界大戦によりふたたび焼失し、1973年（昭和48）再建された。境内に、高麗(こうらい)から移植したと伝えられる樹齢1100年といわれる大きなソテツ（天然記念物）がある。

［浅井円道］

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