Seiunji Temple-The Daily Ledger

Seiunji ( Seiunji, Seiunji) is a temple in Yamato-cho, Kisai, Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. It is a Kenchoji sect temple of the Rinzai school, with the mountain name of Tenmokuzan and the Honzon of Shakyamuni Buddha. At the time of its founding, the temple was called Gokoku Zenji.

Overview

Seiunji Temple is located on the left bank of the upper reaches of the Nichikawa valley at an elevation of about 1,050 meters in the Tenmokuzan mountains. In Tano, another 4.6 km downstream of the Nichigawa valley, there is a Soto Zen temple, Tenmokuzan Keitokuin.

Seiunji Temple

In 1348, the founder Gokkai Honjo (also known as Gokkai, 1284–1352) visited this mountain, which was then called 1284–1352) visited this mountain, which was called Mount Tokusayama In the second year of Bunpo (1318), Narihumi and five of his companions traveled to The Yuan Dynasty, where they received teachings and the Inka from the Buddhist master Zhongfeng Mingben (1263-1323) at Tianmu Mountain. He returned to Japan in 1326. After that, he traveled around the country for more than 20 years in search of a suitable place to practice the teachings of his master.

Seiunji Temple

Gokkai strongly criticized the Muso Soseki sect, which was predominant at the time. He left behind a legend that he enshrined a statue of Pu'o Kokushi in a rock cave, sat in meditation under a tree, rarely interacted with the local people. After his death four years later, Mokuzai-san prospered under the patronage of the Takeda clan, the protector of Kai, and Mokuzai-san came to be known as "Tenmoku-san," and together with Zuiganzan Kogenji Temple in Tanba City, Hyogo Prefecture (whose founder, Tohkei Zuo, was one of those who traveled with Gyohai Honjo to Gen), it was also called "Higashi Tenmoku" and "Nishi Tenmoku.

Seiunji Temple

In Onei 23 (1416), Takeda Nobumitsu, the protector of Kai, who was defeated by the Muromachi Shogunate for his complicity in the Uesugi Zenshu Rebellion, committed suicide in this mountain. The remains of Nobumitsu are said to have been brought to this temple for burial, and the Hokyointo of Nobumitsu and the Gorintō of his vassals who committed suicide together exist in Seiunji Temple. It is said that Takeda Shingen also dedicated a military flag, a Gunbai, and a mirror to the temple.

At the end of the Warring States Period, Tokugawa Ieyasu, who destroyed the Takeda clan, also issued a guarantee of about three kanbun of temple territory and three articles of prohibition to the temple, 1583 June 20. In addition, in 1643, the temple received a Shuin-jō from Ieyasu's grandson, the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu of the Edo shogunate, for the relief of the temple territory. In 1716, the Shuin-jō land according to the surveybook is said to have been about 20 koku.

According to the writings of Zen master Nariumi Honjo, there was a lake in the upper part of Mount Mokuzai, which overflowed during rainfall and flowed down the slope, and the present garden (stone garden) may have been created as a result of this. Takeda Nobumitsu was said to have been very ill and committed suicide because he was involved in the Uesugi Zen sect's rebellion.

History

1348 - Founded by Nariumi Honjo as the founder of the temple. 1359 - It is said that a bronze bell was cast by Shami Dogane. 1417 - Takeda Nobumitsu, the 13th head of the Takeda clan, the Kai protector, committed suicide on Mt. 1583 - Tokugawa Ieyasu issued a guarantee of 3 kanbun of temple territory and 3 articles of prohibition. 1592 - The temple was burned down by the Oda family, but the treasury was rebuilt that year. 2010 - "Void Bodhisattva", exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City October 2, 2016 - "Tenmokuzan Seiunji Temple: Takeda Nobumitsu Lord Six Hundredth Anniversary Memorial Service" Buddhist memorial service was held.