Musashi Kokubunji

Japanese: 武蔵国分寺 - むさしこくぶんじ

A Shingon sect temple in Kokubunji, Tokyo. Its name is Iozan Saishoin. Its origins date back to 741 (Tenpyo 13), when it was built in response to an imperial decree by Emperor Shomu to build a provincial temple. Its mission was to spread central Buddhist culture in Musashi Province and pray for peace throughout the country and bountiful harvests, but the seven-story pagoda burned down in 835 (Jowa 2), and although it was rebuilt in 845 (Jowa 12), it went through repeated declines thereafter. In particular, it was burned down by fire during Nitta Yoshisada's attack on Kamakura in 1333 (Genko 3), which caused the size of the temple to be greatly reduced, and during the Sengoku period, only a trace of it remained as the Yakushido Hall.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

東京都国分寺市にある真言宗豊山派の寺。医王山最勝院と号する。741年(天平13)聖武天皇の国分寺造営の詔によって建立されたのを起源とする。武蔵国に中央の仏教文化を普及し，天下太平と五穀豊穣を祈ることが使命であったが，835年(承和2)に七重塔が焼失し，845年(承和12)に再建されたものの，以後退転を繰り返した。ことに1333年(元弘3)新田義貞の鎌倉攻めの際の兵火による焼失は，堂宇を大幅に縮小させ，戦国時代には薬師堂としてわずかに体裁をとどめるに至った。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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