Myohonji Temple

This is the head temple of the Nichiren sect Myohonji school, located in Hikigatani, Omachi, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. It is called Chokozan. The principal image is the Sanbo Soshi. The founder was Nichirou. It is said to have been founded in 1260 (Bun'o 1) by Hiki Yoshimoto, but another theory is that it began in 1274 (Bun'ei 11) when the Hiki clan donated their private residence to Nichiren. In 1422 (Oei 29), Satake Nyudo Jogen (Yamairi Yoyoshi) holed himself up in the temple and the temple was attacked by Ashikaga Mochiuji, during which the temple burned down, but it seems to have been restored around 1559 (Eiroku 2) (according to a letter from Honmonji Temple). Nagao Kagetora (Uesugi Kenshin) and other military commanders forbade their troops from causing trouble within the temple. Toyotomi Hideyoshi also issued a similar ban. During the Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu granted the temple land, and the temple was restored, the various halls were restored, the Three Treasures were restored, and the Shakado porch and bell tower were built.

[Tamura Kosuke]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

神奈川県鎌倉市大町比企(ひき)ヶ谷(やつ)にある日蓮(にちれん)宗妙本寺派の本山。長興(ちょうこう)山と号する。本尊は三宝(さんぼう)祖師。開山は日朗(にちろう)。1260年（文応1）比企能本(ひきよしもと)の草創と伝えられるが、一説には1274年（文永11）比企氏が日蓮に私邸を喜捨(きしゃ)したのが始まりという。1422年（応永29）佐竹入道常元(さたけにゅうどうじょうげん)（山入(やまいり)與義）が寺にこもり足利持氏(もちうじ)に攻められた際に当寺も炎上、1559年（永禄2）ころには復興されたようである（本門寺日現書状による）。長尾景虎(かげとら)（上杉謙信(けんしん)）をはじめ各武将はその軍勢が寺内で狼藉(ろうぜき)することを禁じた。豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉も同様の禁令を出している。江戸時代に徳川家康が寺領を付与し、諸堂の修復、三宝諸尊の再興、釈迦堂向拝(しゃかどうこうはい)、鐘楼などがつくられた。

［田村晃祐］

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