| Kenchoji Temple" (建長寺)
|
Full name: Kofukusan (巨福山) Kenchoji
Denomination: Rinzai
sect (臨済宗)
Location: One kilometer south of Kita-Kamakura
Station
History: Before the temple was built, this
valley site was an execution ground known as Jigokudani (地獄谷),
literally, Hell Valley. A Jizodo Hall (地蔵堂) once stood on the
execution site but the structure was moved to Sankeien Park (三渓園) in
Yokohama and its statue of Jizo is now in the Butsuden Hall in the
center of the grounds.
In 1253, Hojo Tokiyori (北条時頼, 1227-63) had Kenchoji temple built,
inviting Rankei Doryu (蘭渓道隆, 1213-78) as the founding priest. This
was around 30 years prior to the completion of Engakuji temple. The
structures and their layout were modeled after a Chinese Zen
monastery. The temple became the first Zen center in Japan and was
the first to be officially designated a Zen
temple.
Rankei Doryu
came from China in 1246. Prior to the temple's construction, he
stayed first at Jufukuji (寿福寺), then at Jorakuji (常楽寺), and became
the founding priest of Kenchoji upon its completion. He enforced
strict discipline based on Chinese Zen teachings and established the
temple as one of the central facilities of Zen practice. Later, he
moved to Kenninji (建仁寺) in Kyoto and died in 1278 at the age of
66.
After his death, he was
given the posthumous title, Daikaku Zenji (大覚禅師). This title,
literally "Zen Master," was the first to be bestowed by an emperor
on a Zen priest. Later, it became customary to grant the title Zenji
(禅師) to Zen priests who were sufficiently esteemed, learned and
virtuous. Other high-ranking priests succeeded to the position,
including Gottan Funei (兀菴普寧, ?-1276), the second Chief Priest, and
Mugaku Sogen, the fifth Chief
Priest.
In the last
years of the Kamakura period, the Somon Gate, Sammon Gate, Butsuden
Hall, and Hatto Hall stood in a straight line in the Chinese Zen
temple style. There were one thousand priests, monks, and workers,
and the sub-temples numbered forty-nine. Even after the Kamakura
bakufu (幕府) was overthrown, the temple was patronized by the
Ashikaga and prospered as the head temple among the Five temple
System of Zen monasteries. Kenchoji once lost its prosperity in the
Edo period, but nowadays it is regarded as the best exam="all" of the
Zen style in Kamakura.
Grounds and structures: The temple entry is
through the Nishi-Gemon Gate (西外門), literally West Outer Gate. The
characters on the overhead plaque read "Tenka Zenrin" (天下禅林).
"Tenka" means "the world" or "the whole country" and "Zenrin" means
"Zen temple." Beyond this West gate is the Somon Gate (総門), also
with a plaque. The inscription here is "巨福山," Kofukusan. (The
character "巨" contains an unusual stoke "、" , difficult to
show here. It is called "hyakkan-ten (百貫点), meaning a stroke that
adds value to the character. With this added stroke, the character
is said to gain in dignity.)
The massive
Sammon Gate lies beyond the Somon Gate. It is in the nijumon-style
(二重門, a two-storied gate with double roofs) and was built in 1775.
On the second story are statues of Gohyaku Rakan (五百羅漢, Five-hundred
Arhats).
The approach
beyond the gate is lined with junipers (byakushin, 柏槙or shariju,
舎利樹), said to have been brought here from China by Rankei Doryu, the
founding priest of Kenchoji. Even now, these old trees and the
setting are reminders of what a Zen temple garden must have been
like 700 years ago.
A belfry
stands to the right of the Sammon Gate. The large bell, designated a
National Treasure, was made in 1255 through a donation from Hojo
Tokiyori. Though the bell ranks second in size to the one at
Engakuji, its workmanship is reputedly to be just as fine in its
shape, carving and inscriptions. The bell was cast by Mononobe
Shigemitsu (物部重光, ?-?), a celebrated caster of the mid-Kamakura
period. Another of his masterpieces (also designated a National
Treasure) can be found at Jikoji temple (慈光寺) in Saitama
Prefecture.
The present
Butsuden Hall (仏殿, an Important Cultural Property) was constructed
between 1624 and 1644 at Zojoji temple (増上, in Tokyo) and
transferred here in 1647. On the ceiling and walls are traces of the
one-time colorful paintings and ornaments of the Momoyama period
(桃山時代, 1573-1603) style, which features elaborate construction and
decorations. The main image is a five-meter (including pedestal)
Jizo Bosatsu. The attendants, called Sentai Jizo (千体地蔵), literally,
"One Thousand Jizo," actually number 282.
Hatto Hall (法堂, designated an Important Cultural Property by
Kanagawa Prefecture), behind the Butsuden, was constructed in 1814
for Buddhist ceremonies. The main image is Senju Kannon (千手観音),
literally, One-Thousand Armed Kannon. Above the entrance is a plaque
inscribed Tokaihokutsu (東海法窟, literally, East Ocean Dharma Hall),
written by a Chinese priest named Chikusai (竹西).
Further along the approach
stands a Karamon Gate (唐門), which has a gently curved gable with
elaborate carvings. The gate, like the Butsuden Hall, was
transferred from Zojoji Temple.
Ryuoden Hall
(竜王殿) is a little further on. This building was brought here from
Kyoto along with the Somon Gate. It houses a statue of Hokan Shaka
(宝冠釈迦 Jewel-Crowned Shakyamuni). Behind the Ryuoden Hall lies a
garden (designated a National Scenic Spot). The pond is in the form
of the Chinese character "心", shin. A pond of this shape is called
"shinji-ike," literally, a "shin-character pond," whose creation is
credited to Daikaku Jenji.
The path
beside Ryuhoden runs upward beside a stream and then forks. The left
path and a flight of stone steps lead to the grave of Kawamura
Zuiken (川村瑞賢, 1617-99) and his son, Tsuken (通顯). Close by stands a
monument to the memory of Zuiken and his great
achievements.
A merchant in
the early Edo period, Zuiken developed two new sea routes for
transporting rice and other commodities from the Tohoku region to
Edo and Osaka. One route connected ports on the eastern side of the
Tohoku region and Choshi (銚子, in present-day Chiba Prefecture),
while the other linked ports on the western side of Tohoku and Osaka
via the Shimonoseki Strait (下関海峡).
The other
fork in the path goes further into the hillside, where a stone-paved
approach and some flights of stone steps lead to a shrine. The
surrounding hills, called Shojoken (勝上巘), are 114 meters above sea
level. The hillside shrine, dedicated to Hansobo Daigongen (半僧坊大権現,
a guardian deity of Kenchoji temple), was brought here from Shizuoka
in 1890 by Ozora Kando
(霄貫道).
Halfway up the steps
and to the side are various tengu (天狗 long-nosed goblin) figures.
The grounds offer a fine view of Kenchoji and the surrounding hills.
A path to the right leads to a hiking trail that goes to Ten'en
(天園), Kakuonji temple (覚園寺) and Zuisenji temple
(瑞泉寺).
The grounds of
Kenchoji used to contain two springs, Kinryusui (金竜水) and Furosui
(不老水), which were counted among the five famous springs of Kamakura.
Both are now extinct.
Temple Treasures: Kenchoji
possesses many treasures. Some are occasionally on display at the
Kokuhokan within the grounds of the Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine;
others are shown during a three-day airing in early
November.
One of the latter
is a portrait (designated an Important Cultural Property) of Hojo
Tokiyori, the fifth regent, depicted in the informal wear called
kariginu (狩衣) and sashinuki (指貫). Another portrait (a National
Treasure) is of Rankei Doryu, a celebrated priest. Among the many
other temple possessions is calligraphy by Daikaku Zenji, a
high-ranking priest. *Note: the kariginu was the upper part of the
daily wear for noblemen and later for warriors, while the sashinuki
was a kind of hakama (袴), a long ="all"ated skirt for men worn over a
kimono.
Legend: Kajiwara-Segaki-e Rite
(梶原施餓鬼会)
To understand
the meaning of this rite, the reader should first know something
about Bon (盆), sometimes referred to as ura-bon-e (盂蘭盆会), a Buddhist
memorial service held from the 13th to the 15th of July (in August
in some other areas) by relatives of the
deceased.
During this
period, most Buddhist temples hold a ceremony called segaki-e, (or
segaki-kuyo, 施餓鬼供養 and sometimes simply osegaki, お施餓鬼, literally,
"hungry ghosts' feeding
rites").
At Kenchoji
temple, after its annual segaki-e ceremony, a second ceremony called
Kajiwara-Segaki-e is held under the Sammon Gate on July 15th. This
is in memory of Kajiwara Kagetoki (梶原景時, ?-1200), a warrior of the
Kamakura period.
Legend says
that when Daikaku Zenji resided in the temple, he met a warrior who
arrived just after the segaki-e ceremony had ended. The warrior
regretted being late and was about to leave, but the priest called
him back and conducted a special ceremony for him. The warrior
thanked the priest for the service, saying, "I am the ghost of
Kajiwara Kagetoki," and vanished. Ever since then, the temple has
made it a custom to hold this additional ceremony immediately after
the segaki-e.
A story
surrounding the origin of the urabon-e goes back to ancient times in
India, when Mokuren (目連), a disci="all" of Shakyamuni, wished to see
what kind of life his deceased mother was leading. Shortly
thereafter he had a dream in which he saw his mother suffering from
hunger. In the dream, he offered her some food, but each time she
reached for it, evil spirits blocked her
way.
Upon awakening, Mokuren
went to Shakyamuni and asked for his mercy. Shakyamuni replied that
his mother's sins were too deep for her to be saved easily, and told
Mokuren that to save her soul he should invite as many priests as
possible and offer as much food as he could afford. Mokuren did as
instructed, holding a memorial service for his mother and, according
to this legend, thereby saved her hungry
soul.
It should be noted,
though, that a segaki-e ceremony was originally held at any time of
need. In the course of time, however, the ceremony was incorporated
into ura-bon-e, held in July or August. Both are connected with the
concept of "feeding hungry souls."
Story: The Origin
of Kenchin-jiru Stew
(けんちん汁)
Kenchin-jiru is
a type of stew made of vegetables first sauted in oil. The
vegetables include sato-imo (a kind of taro), Japanese white radish,
carrots, burdock, etc. Other ingredients are tofu, greens and just
about anything else available. The dish is said to have been created
by Daikaku Zenji, so that leftover vegetables and other food would
be used right down to the last pieces. Because it originated at
Kenchoji temple, it was kencho-jiru,, but over the years, the name
eventually corrupted into kenchin-jiru.
| Meigetsuin temple (明月院)
|
Full name:Fukugensan (福源山) Meigetsuin
Denomination:Rinzai Zen sect
Location:0.7
kilometers east-south-east from JR Kikatamakura
Station.
History: Meigetsuin
was added in the early Muromachi period as a sub-temple of Zenkoji
temple (禅興寺). The latter, Zenkoji, had been built by Hojo Tokimune
(北条時宗), who invited Rankei Doryu (蘭渓道隆) as the founding priest.
Zenkoji was com="all"ted sometime between 1268 and 1269 and was counted
as one of the ten prestigious temples in the Kanto region, Kanto
jissatsu (関東十刹), under the Five Zen temples (鎌倉五山, Kamakura
Gozan).
As the sub-temple of Zenkoji,
Meigetsuin was built by Uesugi Norikata (上杉憲方, 1335-94) who
nominated Misshitsu Shugon (密室守厳) as the founding priest. The name
Meigetsuin was taken from the posthumous name of Norikata, and is
said to be the founder of Yamanouchi branch of Uesugi family. After
Zenkoji temple became extinct, Meigetsuin became independent in the
early Meiji Period.
Grounds and structures:
Beyond the Somon
Gate is an approach upwards. At the end of the approach stands the
Sammon Gate. On its beam is a plaque with the characters "福源山"
(Fukugensan). Behind the gate is the priest's living quarters in
front and, to the left, Butsuden Hall. The Hall has a plaque bearing
the characters "紫陽殿" (Shiyoden) above the entrance and houses a
statue of Nyoirin Kannon (如意輪観音), the main
image.
To the left of Butsuden Hall (as you face
it) is a hall called Soyudo (宗猷堂), which houses a statue of
Misshitsu Shugon. The "Soyu" in Soyudo Hall derives from a title,
Soyu Daiko Zenji (宗猷大光禅師), granted to Gyokuin Eiyo (玉隠英よ) by an
emperor. To the left of Soyudo Hall is a large cave, which contains
a hokyointo-type (宝篋印塔) stone stupa said to be Uesugi Norikata's
tombstone. The rear wall of the cave has images of supposedly
Shakyamuni and Taho Nyorai (多宝如来), and Sixteen Rakan (十六羅漢), or
Sixteen Arhats in relief. The well to the right of Soyudo Hall is
called Kame no I (瓶ノ井), one of the ten famous wells in old
Kamakura.
The temple treasures are not
open to public view. Some of them are on loan to Kamakura Kokuhokan:
a statue of Uesugi Shigefusa (上杉重房, thirteenth century), who was the
founder of the Uesugi family in Kamakura; a statue of Hojo Tokiyori;
an illustrated map of Meigetsuin; and a realistic statue of Gyokuin
Eiyo. All the objects are designated Important Cultural Properties.
The temple grounds are designated a Historic Site by the
government.
If you take the path leading north from
Somon Gate, you will reach the mausoleum of Hojo Tokiyori (北条時頼,
1227-63), and a hokyointo-type stone stupa said to have been made in
his memory.
Tokiyori had Saimyoji temple
(最明寺) built here, took the tonsure in 1256 after he retired from
regency, and died in 1263. The temple, however, became extinct soon
after his death. Thereafter, his son, Tokimune had a temple built,
naming Zenkoji (aforementioned).
The temple grow
mumbers of hydrangeas (ajisai), after which the temple came to be
popularly called Ajisaidera (紫陽花寺), "Hydrangea temple." In June they
come into full bloom and attracts countless flower
lovers.
Story: There is a story that
reveals an aspect of Tokiyori's character. He was also called
Saimyoji Nyudo Tokiyori (最明寺入道時頼) in connection with Saimyoji temple
which he had built. After Tokiyori retired from regency, he is said
to have traveled across the country in the guise of a monk in order
to see what conditions were like. (However, this fact is not clearly
attested.)
One snowy day during his
travel in present-day Gumma Prefecture, he stayed overnight at the
home of a warrior called Sano Tsuneyo (佐野常世). As the host was poor
and did not know who the guest was, the meal he served was very
sim="all".
However, he welcomed his guest
warmly. He took cherished trees from their planting pots, ume (梅,
Japanese apricot), sakura (桜, cherry tree), and matsu (松, pine
tree), in order to cook a meal and warm the
room.
Tsuneyo said, "Because my land was
taken away, I am hardly able to make ends meet. But, I keep my horse
and a set of arms in good condition in case of emergency. When and
if an emergency occurs," he continued, "I will be the first to rush
to Kamakura to fight against any enemy to my last drop of
blood."
Not long after this, the
Kamakura government summoned retainers from across the country.
Tsuneyo was the first to arrive. The man who granted him an audience
was none other than the monk whom Tsuneyo had welcomed on that snowy
night. Tokiyori commended his attitude and not only allowed him to
regain his former land but gave him more.
This story is well known in the Noh
theater as Hachinoki Monogatari (鉢の木物語), "The Tale of the Potted
Trees." The phrase "Iza Kamakura (いざ鎌倉)," literally, "in an
emergency" or "when it comes to the crunch, (I will rush to Kamakura
as fast as possible)," finds its origin in this story.
| Chojuji temple (長寿寺)
|
Full name:Hokisan
Chojuji (宝亀山 長寿寺)
Denomination:Rinzai Zen
sect
Location:0.9 kilometers south-east of JR
Kikatamakura Station.
History:
It was built between 1323 and 1336 by
Ashikaga Motouji (足利基氏, 1340-67), the first Kamakura Kubo, in
memory of his father, Ashikaga Takauji (足利尊氏, 1305-58). The
founding priest was Kosen Ingen (古先印元). The characters, 長寿,
part of the temple name, are said to have been taken from
Takauji's posthumous name, 長寿寺殿, Chojujiden.
Grounds and
structures: Within the grounds is
a hall called Kannondo (観音堂), which houses three statues: one
of Kannon, one of Ashikaga Takauji, and one of Kosen Ingen.
The cave in the hillside
contains a tombstone, allegedly made for Ashikaga Takauji. The
temple is not open to the public.
Full name:Araisan
Ennoji (新居山 円応寺)
Denomination:Rinzai Zen
sect
Location: 1.1 kilometers south-east of JR
Kikatamakura Station.
History:
It is said that originally the
temple was only a hall called Arai Emmado (荒井（or 新居）閻魔堂)
and was once located near Kuhonji temple (九品寺) in
Zaimokuza (材木座). After the hall was destroyed by an
earthquake and the resulting tidal wave, it was re-built
here in 1704.
Grounds and structures
Beyond the tiled Sammon Gate
stands the Main Hall on another raised section of ground
against the hill.
In the
grounds are a square Main Hall in the center, the Kuri
(庫裏) to the right, and a thatched belfry in front of the
Kuri. The temple is popularly called Juodo (十王堂),
because the Main Hall houses images of the Ten Kings, in
addition to some other statues: The images of Ju-O (十王,
Ten Kings in Hades or the nether world) consist of Emma
Daio (閻魔大王 in the center as the main image), Shinko-O
(秦広王), Shoko-O (初江王), Sotei-O or Sotai-O (宋帝王), Gokan-O
(五官王), Hensei-o or Henjo-O (変性王), Taizan-O (太山王),
Byodo-O (平等王), Toshi-O (都市王), and Godotenrin-O
(五道転輪王).
Shoko-O is
designated Important Cultural Properties. A macabre
image, an Important Cultural Property by Kanagawa
Prefecture, is a wooden Datsueba (奪衣婆), who robs the
dead of their clothes at the dry riverbed of the river
called Sanzu no Kawa River (三途の川, the River
Styx).
The sculptures of
Shoko-O, Gushojin (倶生神, a scribe who registers a
person's conduct and informs Emma-Daio of it), Kisotsu
(鬼卒, a demon soldier), Jinto-jo (人頭杖, a staff with two
human heads) are now on loan to and displayed at
Kokuhokan: the first and second images are designated
Important Cultural Properties, while the third and the
fourth are Important Cultural Properties by Kanagawa
Prefecture.
The
sculpture of Emma Daio is said to have been carved by
Unkei (運慶, ?-1223), a celebrated sculptor of Buddhist
images in the early Kamakura
period.
Among his works are
the Nio (仁王) sculptures in the Nandaimon Gate (南大門) of
Todaiji temple and some works at Kofukuji (興福寺) in Nara.
Unkei had a masculine and dynamic style that appealed to
the warrior class in those days.
Story:
There is a story about why and
how Unkei made the image of Emma Daio here. He suffered
a serious sickness and one day nearly died. One night he
dreamed he went to Hell and after being interrogated by
other kings stood before Emma Daio, who said to him, (I
am rumored to be merciless because many peo="all" have been
sentenced to fall into Hell. But the rumor is false. I
am justice itself, for I judge fairly what one has done
before death. Look closely at me," he continued, "and
remember me well. I will return you to the world where
you once lived, whereupon you are to carve my figure as
realistically as possible and have it shown to all
peo="all".( Upon hearing this, Unkei recovered from his
illness.
The image here is
the very one that he carved from memory. The
one-and-a-half-meter-high image has a frightening red
face with a swollen forehead, large eyes and a mouth
opened wide.
The annual
festivals are both held on the 16, one in January, the
other in August, and attract many peo="all". The Emma is
also called Kosodate Emma (子育て閻魔, "Child-Rearing Emma")
because babies who are given their names here are said
to grow strong and healthy.
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