Myōden-ji Temple — Attraction in Kyoto

日蓮宗本山 正法華院法鏡山　妙傳寺縁起 当山は円教院日意上人によって文明九年（1477）に開創された日蓮宗の本山で京都八本山の一つに数えられています。 始め豪商・妙善（桑名家）の帰依を受けて京都一条尻切屋町に堂塔伽藍が建立されました。（第一の妙傳寺）開創に当たり日意上人は、師の日朝上人と図り宗祖日蓮大聖人の御真骨を分骨泰安し、更に身延影現・神霊七面天女と同木同体の御霊体を安置しました。故に当山は「西之身延・妙傳寺」と称され、総本山身延山・久遠寺への参拝が困難な当時、関西以西の日蓮宗信者はこぞってこの「西之身延・妙傳寺」に参拝したと伝えられています。 その後、天文五年（1536）に起こった天分法難により全山悉く灰燼に帰しますが、同十年（1541）新たに四条西洞院に再建されました。（第二の妙傳寺） 更に天正十九年（1591）第六世慈眼院日恵上人の代、関白豊臣秀吉により京極二条に移転を命ぜられます。（第三の妙傳寺）この時、一条家、四条家の菩提寺となり寺勢大いに興隆したことから日恵上人は中興の祖と仰がれています。 第十四世には勇師法縁の縁祖である法性院日勇上人が猊座に就かれます。日勇上人は学徳高く、後水尾天皇の后（中宮）・東福門院より金門袈裟を賜ります。更に山科後に護国寺を開山し、子弟教育のため山科檀林を開かれました。また第十六世には通師法縁の縁祖・寂遠院日通上人が歴世に就かれます。 しかしその後宝永五年（1708）、宝永の大火により再び全山が灰燼に帰しますが、第二十九世住心院日義上人は現在の地に再興し（第四の妙傳寺）、第三十五世了遠院日勤上人は説法一万座に及び現在の本堂を建立されました。 創建以来、度重なる移転と焼失を繰り返しながらも身延門流の直系、京都の触頭として本山の威容を保ち現在に至っています。 （現地妙傳寺縁起より） Nichiren Sect Head Temple Shohokkein Hokkyozan Myodenji Engi This temple was founded in 1477 by Enkyoin Nichii Shonin as the head temple of the Nichiren sect and is counted among the eight main temples in Kyoto. Initially, a temple complex was built in Ichijo Shirikiyacho, Kyoto, after the wealthy merchant Myozen (Kuwana family) converted to the temple. (The first Myodenji) When the temple was founded, Nichii Shonin, in cooperation with his teacher Nichicho Shonin, divided the bones of the founder of the sect, Nichiren Daishonin, and enshrined the spirits of Minobu Kagegen and the Seven-Faced Heavenly Maiden, which are in the same body and tree. Therefore, this temple was called "Minobu Myodenji in the West" and it is said that at a time when it was difficult to visit the head temple Minobu-san Kuon-ji, Nichiren sect believers from the Kansai region and west flocked to this "Minobu Myodenji in the West". Later, in 1536, the Tenbun persecution reduced the entire temple to ashes, but in 1541, it was rebuilt at Shijo Nishinotoin (the second Myoden-ji temple).

Furthermore, in 1591, during the reign of the sixth abbot, Jigen-in Nichiei, the regent Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered the temple to be moved to Kyogoku Nijo (the third Myoden-ji temple). At that time, the temple became the family temple of the Ichijo and Shijo families, and Nichiei is revered as the founder of the temple's revival, as it prospered greatly.

The 14th abbot, Hossho-in Nichiyu, the ancestor of the Yushi family, was appointed to the throne. Nichiyu was highly educated and virtuous, and was awarded the Kinmon kesa by Emperor Gomizunoo's Empress (Chugu), Tofukumon'in. He also founded Gokoku-ji temple after Yamashina, and opened the Yamashina Danrin to educate his children. The 16th abbot was Jakuen-in Nittsu, the ancestor of the Tsushi lineage. However, in 1708, the entire temple was once again reduced to ashes in the Great Hoei Fire, but the 29th abbot, Jushin-in Nichigi, rebuilt it at its current location (the fourth Myoden-ji temple), and the 35th abbot, Ryoen-in Nichinan, gave 10,000 sermons and built the current main hall. Since its founding, the temple has been relocated and burned down many times, but it has maintained its dignity as a head temple of the Minobu school and a branch of the Kyoto branch to this day. (From the local Myoden-ji...

Big nice temple. Doesn't look open to visitors. Why they use the grounds as a parking spot is kind of strange. Must pay...

Nice temple and amazing Goshuin handwriting, they even gave us tea and sweets while we were waiting for our Goshuin...