Chosho-ji
Encyclopedia
is a Buddhist temple of the Nichiren
sect in Kamakura, Kanagawa
, Japan. It's one of a group of three built near the site in Matsubagayatsu ( where Nichiren
, founder of the Buddhist sect that bears his name, is supposed to have had his hut. The first part of its name derives from the founder's last name (Ishii), the second is an alternative reading of the characters for Nagakatsu, the founder's first name.
. Founder Nichiren
wasn't a native: he was born in Awa Province
, in today's Chiba Prefecture
, but it was only natural for a preacher to come to Kamakura because at the time the city was the cultural and political center of the country. He settled down in a hut in the Matsubagayatsu district where three temples (Ankokuron-ji
, Myōhō–ji
, and Chōshō-ji), have been fighting for centuries for the honor of being the sole heir of the master. All three say they lie on the very spot where he used to have his hut, however none of them can prove its claims. The Shinpen Kamakurashi
, a guide book to Kamakura commissioned by Tokugawa Mitsukuni
in 1685, already mentions a strained relationship between Myōhō–ji and Chōshō-ji. However, when the two temples finally went to court, with a sentence emitted in 1787 by the shogunate's tribunals Myōhō–ji won the right to claim to be the place where Nichiren had his hermitage. It appears that Ankokuron-ji didn't participate in the trial because the government's official position was that Nichiren had first his hut there, when he first arrived in Kamakura, but that he made another near Myōhō–ji after he came back from his exile in Izu
in 1263. What Chōshō-ji claims are the remains of the hut lie near the entrance of the Zaimokuza Reien cemetery, outside the temple's premises.
The temple was built by Ishii Nagakatsu, lord of this land in 1263, ten years after the other two. Even if it was really originally built together with Ankokuron-ji and Myōhō–ji by Nichiren himself when he entered Kamakura, the present temple is however simply a later reconstruction by someone else. Whatever the truth, Chōshō-ji seems therefore to be the party in the dispute with the weakest arguments.
Because at the time of his persecution Nichiren was saved by a white monkey, believed to be a retainer of god Taishakuten
, the great building behind the statue (the Taishaku-dō) is dedicated to him.
A little above the Taishaku-dō stands the Hokke-dō, a small building which is the temple's de facto main hall. The building, originally built during the Muromachi period
, is an Important Cultural Property
. It contains three more Important Cultural Properties, a gong (waniguchi), a lacquered dining table (kakeban), and a candle stand (shokudai).
Every year on February 11 the temple hosts the Ceremony during which Buddhist priests douse themselves with cold water to pray for the country's safety. About 150 Nichiren priests from all over the country come here for the ceremony, participation to which being a precondition to be allowed to perform religious services.
Nichiren
Nichiren was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myōhō-Renge-Kyō in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Nam-Myōhō-Renge-Kyō as the essential practice of the teaching...
sect in Kamakura, Kanagawa
Kamakura, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about south-south-west of Tokyo. It used to be also called .Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is often described in history books as a former de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate and of the Regency during the...
, Japan. It's one of a group of three built near the site in Matsubagayatsu ( where Nichiren
Nichiren
Nichiren was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myōhō-Renge-Kyō in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Nam-Myōhō-Renge-Kyō as the essential practice of the teaching...
, founder of the Buddhist sect that bears his name, is supposed to have had his hut. The first part of its name derives from the founder's last name (Ishii), the second is an alternative reading of the characters for Nagakatsu, the founder's first name.
Nichiren, Matsubagayatsu and Chōshō–ji
Kamakura is known among Buddhists for having been during the 13th century the cradle of Nichiren BuddhismNichiren Buddhism
Nichiren Buddhism is a branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th century Japanese monk Nichiren...
. Founder Nichiren
Nichiren
Nichiren was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myōhō-Renge-Kyō in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Nam-Myōhō-Renge-Kyō as the essential practice of the teaching...
wasn't a native: he was born in Awa Province
Awa Province (Chiba)
was a province of Japan in the area of modern Chiba Prefecture. It lies on the tip of the Boso Peninsula , whose name takes its first kanji from the name of Awa Province and its second from Kazusa and Shimōsa Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was or...
, in today's Chiba Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
, but it was only natural for a preacher to come to Kamakura because at the time the city was the cultural and political center of the country. He settled down in a hut in the Matsubagayatsu district where three temples (Ankokuron-ji
Ankokuron-ji
is a Buddhist temple of the Nichiren sect in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan. It is one of a group of three built near the site in Matsubagayatsu , have been fighting for centuries for the honor of being the sole heir of the master. All three say they lie on the very spot where he used to have his hut,...
, Myōhō–ji
Myoho–ji
is a Buddhist temple of the Nichiren sect in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan. It is one of a group of three built near the site in Matsubagayatsu, or the , where Nichiren, founder of the Buddhist sect that bears his name, is supposed to have had his hut...
, and Chōshō-ji), have been fighting for centuries for the honor of being the sole heir of the master. All three say they lie on the very spot where he used to have his hut, however none of them can prove its claims. The Shinpen Kamakurashi
Shinpen Kamakurashi
The is an Edo period compendium of topographic, geographic and demographic data concerning the city of Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, and its vicinities. Consisting of eight volumes and commissioned in 1685 by Tokugawa Mitsukuni to three vassals, it contains for example information about...
, a guide book to Kamakura commissioned by Tokugawa Mitsukuni
Tokugawa Mitsukuni
or was a prominent daimyo who was known for his influence in the politics of the early Edo period. He was the third son of Tokugawa Yorifusa and succeeded him, becoming the second daimyo of the Mito domain....
in 1685, already mentions a strained relationship between Myōhō–ji and Chōshō-ji. However, when the two temples finally went to court, with a sentence emitted in 1787 by the shogunate's tribunals Myōhō–ji won the right to claim to be the place where Nichiren had his hermitage. It appears that Ankokuron-ji didn't participate in the trial because the government's official position was that Nichiren had first his hut there, when he first arrived in Kamakura, but that he made another near Myōhō–ji after he came back from his exile in Izu
Izu Peninsula
The is a large mountainous peninsula with deeply indented coasts to the west of Tokyo on the Pacific coast of the island of Honshū, Japan. Formerly the eponymous Izu Province, Izu peninsula is now a part of Shizuoka Prefecture...
in 1263. What Chōshō-ji claims are the remains of the hut lie near the entrance of the Zaimokuza Reien cemetery, outside the temple's premises.
The temple was built by Ishii Nagakatsu, lord of this land in 1263, ten years after the other two. Even if it was really originally built together with Ankokuron-ji and Myōhō–ji by Nichiren himself when he entered Kamakura, the present temple is however simply a later reconstruction by someone else. Whatever the truth, Chōshō-ji seems therefore to be the party in the dispute with the weakest arguments.
Features of the temple
Next to the temple's gate stands a huge statue of Nichiren himself surrounded by four Deva Kings, who are there to protect and serve him.Because at the time of his persecution Nichiren was saved by a white monkey, believed to be a retainer of god Taishakuten
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
, the great building behind the statue (the Taishaku-dō) is dedicated to him.
A little above the Taishaku-dō stands the Hokke-dō, a small building which is the temple's de facto main hall. The building, originally built during the Muromachi period
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate, which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, two years after the brief Kemmu restoration of imperial...
, is an Important Cultural Property
Important Cultural Properties of Japan
The term is often shortened into just are items officially already classified as Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs and judged to be of particular importance to the Japanese people....
. It contains three more Important Cultural Properties, a gong (waniguchi), a lacquered dining table (kakeban), and a candle stand (shokudai).
Every year on February 11 the temple hosts the Ceremony during which Buddhist priests douse themselves with cold water to pray for the country's safety. About 150 Nichiren priests from all over the country come here for the ceremony, participation to which being a precondition to be allowed to perform religious services.
See also
- For an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture, see the Glossary of Japanese BuddhismGlossary of Japanese BuddhismThis is the glossary of Japanese Buddhism, including major terms the casual reader might find useful in understanding articles on the subject. Words followed by an asterisk are illustrated by an image in one of the photo galleries...
.