Myohoji Temple

This is a Nichiren sect temple in Horinouchi, Suginami Ward, Tokyo. It is called Nichienzan and is also known as "Hori no Uchi O-Soshi-sama." The principal image is the Jikkai Mutually Possessing Mandala. There is a statue of the warding off evil spirits. It was founded during the Genna era (1615-24) as a Shingon sect nunnery, but due to Nichien's Lotus Sutra faith, her son Nikkei converted in 1621. It later became a branch temple of the Himonya (Meguro Ward) Hokkeji Temple, which is of the Fujufuse sect, and after it was suppressed, the statue of the Hokkeji Temple's founder was moved there in 1692 (Genroku 5), and it is said that many believers from nearby areas began to gather there. The entire temple was destroyed in a major fire in 1931 (Showa 6). It was later rebuilt. Within the temple grounds are the Iron Gate (designed by the British architect Conder in 1878), a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan, the reception hall, a designated Important Cultural Property of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and the kuri (kitchen quarters) "Onari no Ma."

[Tamura Kosuke]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

東京都杉並区堀ノ内にある日蓮(にちれん)宗の寺。日円(にちえん)山と号し、「堀の内お祖師様」とよばれている。本尊は十界互具曼荼羅(じっかいごぐまんだら)。除厄祖師像がある。元和(げんな)年間（1615～24）の創立で、真言(しんごん)宗の尼寺であったが、日円尼の法華(ほっけ)信仰によりその子日逕(にっけい)の代（1621）に改宗。その後、不受不施(ふじゅふせ)派の碑文谷(ひもんや)（目黒区）法華寺の末寺となり、弾圧と同時に1692年（元禄5）法華寺の祖師像を移して以来、近郷の信者が多く集まるようになったという。1931年（昭和6）の大火で全山焼失。その後再建された。境内には国の重要文化財の鉄門（1878年イギリスのコンドルの設計）、都重要文化財の客殿、庫裡(くり)「御成(おな)りの間」などがある。

［田村晃祐］

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