KIRAKUSAN JIGENJI |
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INTRODUCTION | |
Jigenji temple was founded by an itinerant priest who happened to visit this place in the first year of Tokuji(1306)in later Kamakura period. The priest,Hoin Jo−on,was here presented with an image of Kosanze−myoo(one of guardian gods of Buddhism)dug out in the middle of a precipice. He asked a local feudal lord, Nagasaki Shirozaemon, to enshrine the image. The small shrine,thus constructed,was the origination of the temple. The shrine was rebuilt into a large shugenjo(meditation hall) after substitution of the image, which,having done some calamity to passers −by,was again buried in the earth. The new image came to be greatly admired by the local populace. |
After Hoin Jo−on passed away in the first year of Shochu (1324), his djsciple,Eion,replaced the shrine on the cliff, which is the present location, with the aid of Nagasaki family among others. He also placed a principle image of Dainichi−Nyorai(one state of Buddha himself) and named the temple Kiraku−san Kyorei−in Jigenji organizing it into the Singon sect. The temple has enjoyed the privilege of bearing the crest of paulownia leaves since its priest, Yugi, was granted an image which had been a personal possession of Emperor Hanazono(1308−1318). The present main building was reconstructed in 1975. |
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