Myoho-in Temple

Located in Myoho-in Maekawa-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, this is a Tendai sect temple and one of the five temples of the mountain gate. It originally originated as Myoko-in, the west tower of Mount Hiei. When Hiyoshi Sanno was enshrined near the Hojuji villa in 1160 (Eiraku 1), it was moved to the new location as the residence of Myoho-in Shoun, who was invited as the guardian monk, and was called Shin-Hiyoshi. In 1164 (Chokan 2), Emperor Goshirakawa built Rengeo-in within the Hojuji temple grounds, and Shoun was in charge of both, and Hojuji. His successor, Jitsuzen, became the head priest of Tendai in 1202 (Kennin 2), and was the first to use the name Myoho-in. Prince Sonsho Hoshinno, the second son of Emperor Takakura, entered the temple and became the head priest of Tendai in 1227 (Antei 1). The temple was moved to Kosaka, Ayanokoji, and became one of the three head priests of Tendai. Since then, other princes have entered the temple, and it has been called Shinhiyoshi Monzeki, Komonzeki, Ayanokoji Monzeki, etc., and inherited the torch of Hojuji and Rengeoin. After it was burned down in the war of 1467 (Onin 1), Toyotomi Hideyoshi founded Hokoji on the site of Hojuji in 1586 (Tensho 14), and in 1614 (Keicho 19), the inscription on the temple bell cast by Toyotomi Hideyori was criticized by Tokugawa Ieyasu. After the dispute, Ieyasu welcomed Prince Tsunetane and moved the temple to its current location in 1615 (Genwa 1). He also took charge of the Hokoji Toyokuni Shrine and Rengeoin Temple, bestowing the temple with 1,613 koku of land, and the temple flourished with an area of ​​over 78,000 square meters. Today, the temple is home to the main hall, sleeping hall, goma hall, Karamon gate, large and small shoin temples, as well as the Rengeoin Temple (Sanjusangendo), an outside Buddhist temple hall, which is a magnificent structure. The kuri (national treasure) is a magnificent piece of architecture from the Momoyama period. There are a number of ancient documents, including a colored silk portrait of Emperor Goshirakawa, an autumn grass lacquer writing stand (both national important cultural properties), and gold and silver partition paintings believed to have been painted by Kano Eitoku and Mitsunobu.

[Yoshimichi Shioiri]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

京都市東山区妙法院前側(まえかわ)町にある天台宗門跡(もんぜき)寺で、山門五箇室門跡の一つ。もと比叡山西塔(ひえいざんさいとう)妙香院に起源し、1160年（永暦1）法住寺離宮のそばに日吉山王(ひえさんのう)を勧請(かんじょう)したとき、護持僧として招かれた妙法院昌雲(しょううん)の住房として移し、これを新日吉(いまひえ)と称した。1164年（長寛2）後白河(ごしらかわ)法皇が法住寺殿内に建てた蓮華王院(れんげおういん)と、法住寺とを昌雲が管掌した。後を継いだ実全が1202年（建仁2）天台座主(ざす)となり初めて妙法院の号をたてた。高倉(たかくら)天皇第2子尊性法親王(そんしょうほっしんのう)が入寺し、1227年（安貞1）天台座主となり、綾小路(あやのこうじ)小坂に移建され、天台座主三門跡の一となる。以来法親王が入り、新日吉門跡、皇門跡、綾小路門跡などと称され、法住寺・蓮華王院の法燈(ほうとう)を嗣(つ)いだ。1467年（応仁1）の兵火で焼失後、1586年（天正14）豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉が法住寺跡に方広寺を創建、1614年（慶長19）豊臣秀頼(ひでより)によって鋳造された梵鐘(ぼんしょう)の銘文が徳川家康によって責められる。その紛議後、家康は常胤(つねたね)法親王を迎えて、1615年（元和1）ふたたび現在地に移転し、方広寺豊国廟(ほうこくびょう)と蓮華王院をも管領させ、寺領一千六百十三石を与え、寺域22万余坪を有し栄えた。現在は本堂、寝殿、護摩(ごま)堂、唐門(からもん)、大書院、小書院のほか、境外仏堂の蓮華王院（三十三間堂）などがすばらしい。庫裡(くり)（国宝）は桃山時代の豪壮な建築である。絹本着色後白河法皇御影、秋草蒔絵(まきえ)文台（ともに国重要文化財）、狩野永徳(かのうえいとく)・光信(みつのぶ)らの筆とされる金碧(きんぺき)障壁画のほか、多くの古文書類がある。

［塩入良道］

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