Rinnoji Temple

This is a Tendai sect temple located in Yamauchi, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. It began as Shihonryuji, founded by Shodo Shonin in 766 (Tenpyo Jingo 2). In 810 (Kōnin 1), it received the name Manganji, and in 820 Kukai and in 848 (Kasho 1) came and built various halls, and it is said that Yamauchi flourished greatly. Although it later fell into some decline, it was protected by the Kamakura shogunate, with the donation of temple land by Minamoto no Yoritomo and the conversion of Hojo Tokiyori, and in 1308 (Enkei 1), Prince Nincho became the 27th abbot of the temple, and the temple also became closely related to the Imperial family. At its peak, it is said that there were over 300 monks' quarters, but after being caught up in the wars of Ashikaga Takauji and then the confiscation of temple lands by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, only nine large temples remain.

During the Keicho era (1596-1615), when Tenkai entered the temple, it flourished again, and Tokugawa Ieyasu was a devoted follower, receiving over 2,000 koku of temple land. After Ieyasu's death, Hidetada built a mausoleum for his father, Ieyasu, and in 1617 (Genwa 3), brought the coffin from Mount Kuno and reburied it, making it Toshogu Daigongen. Since then, the temple has maintained a special relationship with the Tokugawa shogunate, and various daimyo have made donations, and the various halls have gradually been completed, including Iemitsu's reconstruction of Toshogu Shrine. In 1655 (Meireki 1), the temple was given the name of Rinnoji Temple, and Prince Shucho, son of Emperor Gomizunoo, became its first head priest. He also served as head priest of Kan'ei-ji Temple and head priest of Tendai, and successive head princes reigned over the Buddhist world as Kanrei-gu (regent's deputy) until the Meiji era. In 1871 (Meiji 4), following the Shinbutsu Bunri (law to separate Shinto and Buddhism), Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Futarasan Shrine became independent, and the temple took on its old name of Manganji, but in 1885 it restored the title of Nikkozan Rinnoji head priest. Since then, the Sanbutsudo (nationally designated Important Cultural Property) has been the main hall. The three buildings of Daiyuin Mausoleum, which enshrines the spirit of Iemitsu, the main hall, the Aino-ma, and the worship hall, are designated as national treasures, and 19 other buildings, including the Karamon Gate and Kokamon Gate, as well as the Jogyo-do Hall, Jigen-do Hall, and the distinctive Sorin-to Hall, are designated as important national cultural properties. The Yakushi-do Hall, famous for its roaring dragon, was burned down in 1961 (Showa 36) and was restored in 1968. The temple's treasures include the Daihatsunehungyoshuge (National Treasure), eight scrolls of the Toshogu Shrine, a Thousand-Armed Kannon statue (both national important cultural properties), as well as many crafts and old books. The Gohanshiki ceremony on April 2nd and the Ennen no Mai (long-lasting dance) on May 17th are famous.

[Yoshimichi Shioiri]

"Ancient Temple Pilgrimage: Eastern Japan 2: Rinnoji Temple" (1981, Tankosha) by Kenkichi Yamamoto and others, photographed by Katsuro Meikyou

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

栃木県日光市山内にある天台宗の門跡(もんぜき)寺院。766年（天平神護2）勝道上人(しょうどうしょうにん)により開創された四本竜寺(しほんりゅうじ)に始まる。810年（弘仁1）に満願寺の号を受け、820年には空海、848年（嘉祥1）には円仁(えんにん)がきて諸堂が建立され、山内は大いに栄えたと伝えられる。のちやや衰退したが、源頼朝(よりとも)の寺領の寄進や北条時頼(ときより)の帰信など鎌倉幕府の庇護(ひご)を受け、1308年（延慶1）には仁澄(にんちょう)親王が当山第27世となり、皇室との関係も密接となった。最盛時には僧坊300余といわれたが、足利尊氏(あしかがたかうじ)の兵乱に巻き込まれ、さらに豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉による寺領没収などで、大坊が9か寺残されるのみとなった。

　慶長(けいちょう)年間（1596～1615）天海(てんかい)が当山に入って以来ふたたび興隆し、徳川家康の帰依(きえ)も厚く寺領2000余石を受けた。家康没後、秀忠(ひでただ)は父家康の霊廟(れいびょう)をつくり、1617年（元和3）久能山(くのうざん)から霊柩(れいきゅう)を迎えて改葬し、東照大権現(だいごんげん)とした。以来徳川幕府と特別な関係を保ち、諸大名の寄進も行われて、家光(いえみつ)の東照宮改築をはじめ諸堂がしだいに完備した。1655年（明暦1）には輪王寺の号を受け、後水尾(ごみずのお)天皇の皇子守澄(しゅちょう)法親王が初代の門跡となり、寛永(かんえい)寺門跡、天台座主(ざす)をも兼ね、明治に至るまで歴代法親王は管領宮(かんりょうのみや)として仏教界に君臨した。1871年（明治4）神仏分離令で、日光東照宮、二荒山(ふたらさん)神社が独立し、寺は満願寺の旧名を称したが、1885年日光山輪王寺門跡号を復活した。以後、三仏堂（国重文）を本堂とする。家光の霊を祀(まつ)る大猷院霊廟(だいゆういんれいびょう)の本殿・相の間・拝殿の3棟が国宝に、同じく大猷院霊廟の唐門・皇嘉門など19棟、また常行(じょうぎょう)堂、慈眼(じげん)堂、特徴ある相輪橖(そうりんとう)などが国重要文化財に指定されている。1961年（昭和36）焼失した鳴竜(なきりゅう)で有名な薬師堂は68年復興された。寺宝には『大般涅槃経集解(だいはつねはんぎょうしゅうげ)』（国宝）、東照権現像八幅、千手観音(せんじゅかんのん)像（ともに国重文）などや工芸品、古書を多く蔵する。4月2日の強飯(ごうはん)式、5月17日の延年の舞は有名。

［塩入良道］

『山本健吉他文、名鏡勝朗写真『古寺巡礼　東国2　輪王寺』（1981・淡交社）』

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