Taiseki-ji Temple

This temple is the head temple of Nichiren Shoshu and one of the five mountains of Mt. The founder of the sect is Nichiren Shonin, and the temple was founded on November 15, 1290, by Nikko, the second founder of the sect.

The temple’s name, “Taiseki-ji Temple,” comes from the name of the place, Oishigahara (大石ヶ原).

The temple is lined with old wooden structures such as the five-story pagoda, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, and the Sanmon and Mikageido, tangible cultural properties designated by the prefecture, which attract many believers and worshippers.

Outline

Taiseki-ji Temple, sometimes abbreviated to “Dainichirengezan” (Mt. Taho Fuji), is a Buddhist temple located in the Dharma lineage of Nikko. This temple inherited the Dharma lineage of Nikko, and in the past was part of the Fujimon school, a stream dedicated to the Katsucho school and the Sosho Honbutsu theory.

It is one of the “Five Mountains of Fuji” located in the Sunto region of Shizuoka Prefecture, and together with Kitayama Honmonji, Nishiyama Honmonji, Shimojo Myorenji, and Koizumi Kuonji, it formed the Fuji Mon school, and was sometimes referred to as “Komon Hachihonzan” together with Kyoto Yohenji, Izu Jinsenji, and Yoda Myohonji.

During the Meiji period (1868-1912), the Fujimon school united to form the Nichiren Shoshu Komon sect (later known as the Honmon sect), and the presidents of the eight Komon temples were appointed on a rotating basis. After the war, the temple was integrated with other temples and is now independent as the head temple of Nichiren Shoshu.

Hirobu Plaza

Taiseki-ji Temple is located at 2057 Kamijo, Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and part of the cemetery belongs to Kitayama in the same city. The precincts of the temple extend approximately 1550 m from north to south and 1150 m from east to west. Writer Keigetsu Omachi said, “You cannot talk about a temple without seeing Taiseki-ji Temple.

Mountain Climbing and Pilgrimage

In Nichiren Shoshu, a pilgrimage to Taiseki-ji Temple is described as “climbing the head temple.” In the early 1950s, Josei Toda, the second president of the Soka Gakkai, began organizing monthly climbing parties for Soka Gakkai members at Taiseki-ji Temple.

Later, Hokkeko also began to hold monthly mountain climbing meetings for Hokkeko members after the establishment of the Hokkeko Union.

However, the general public who are not members of Nichiren Shoshu are free to walk around and visit the temple grounds, but for doctrinal and security reasons, they are not allowed to enter the interior of the Bongando Hall.

In addition, on April 6 and 7 and November 20 and 21 each year, a Buddhist memorial service is held, and only members of the Nichiren Shoshu faithful who have obtained permission in advance are allowed to visit the temple on those days.

Origin and History

The origin of Taiseki-ji Temple dates back to 1290 when Nikko, a disciple of Nichiren Shonin, left Kuonji Temple on Mount Minobu and moved to Oishigahara at the foot of Mount Fuji at the invitation of Nanjo Asaomi Tokimitsu. His main disciples built a pagoda (side temple), which became the prototype for today’s Taiseki-ji Temple.

In the first half of the Edo period (1603-1867), the main temple complex was completed by the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868), with the 17th Nissei rebuilding the Mikado, the 25th Nichiyo building the Sanmon Gate, the 27th Nichiyo rebuilding the Kyakuden, the 31st Nichiin building the five-story pagoda, etc.

The “Map of the precincts of Taiseki-ji Temple” painted by Kano Funakawa, a painter of the Kano school, shows an elaborate depiction of the halls of Taiseki-ji Temple at that time, which is consistent with the current landscape.

Some traditions state that Taiseki-ji Temple was positioned as the “fundamental sacred site of the Honmon Kaiyan,” and that it was named Dahonmonji Temple when the Honmon Kaiyan was built. The temple is considered to be the only everlasting Buddhist sanctuary in the world, as the “Daimonzon of the Honmon Kaisandan” is enshrined there.

From the Early Modern Period to the Modern Era

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the bases for teaching and research of various Buddhist sects shifted from head temples to dansanrin (Buddhist monasteries), and Taiseki-ji Temple, along with other head temples of the Nikko and Niryu schools, established the Hosokusa dansanrin.

In the 19th century, Taiseki-ji Temple consecutively produced a succession of Kashuji (master of dairin), and 42 out of 96 successive masters were from Taiseki-ji Temple.

During the Edo period (1603-1867), Taiseki-ji Temple was allowed to have its own seat of worship and was revered by the shogunate, feudal lords, the imperial family, and court nobles, but its missionary activities were strictly controlled by the Edo shogunate.

In the Meiji era (1868-1912), Nichiren Shoshu was under a one-shu, one chief priest system, and the Koumon sect of Nichiren Shoshu became independent. Later, Taiseki-ji Temple became independent as the current Nichiren Shoshu through the Nichiren Shoshu Fuji School.

Precincts of the temple

Within the precincts of Taiseki-ji are a five-story pagoda, which is an important cultural property, and other halls such as the Mikageido and Sanmon (three gates), which are designated as cultural properties by the prefecture.

Five-storied Pagoda

The five-story pagoda was built in 1749. It is the tallest pagoda on the Tokaido Highway and stands 34 meters high. Inside is enshrined the principal image of the temple, which was copied by the 31st Nichinin.

At Taiseki-ji Temple, all the halls are built facing south, and the principal image is placed from the south so that it is bathed in sunlight. However, the five-story pagoda is the only one facing west (toward China and India), reflecting the teachings of Nichiren.

Sanmon Gate

Sanmon is a large tower gate located approximately 400 meters north of the main gate (Kuromon). With a frontage of 24 meters, a depth of 11 meters, and a height of 22 meters, Sanmon is the largest gate on Tokaido Highway. It is made of wood and painted vermilion, and the principal image is enshrined in the upper tower.

It was built in 1712 with the donation of 70 huge trees of Mt. Fuji from Ienobu Tokugawa, the 6th great barbarian general of the Edo Shogunate, and 1,200 grains of gold from Ten’eiin, Ienobu Tokugawa’s wife.

Mikageido Hall

The Mikado is the main hall of Taiseki-ji Temple.

It was built in 1632 (under the reign of the 17th Nissei) with a donation from Keidai-in, the wife of the first lord of the Tokushima Domain, Hachisuka Itizane, and is the oldest surviving structure in Taiseki-ji Temple.

At first, the “Honmon Kaisandan Dai-Gohonzon” was enshrined here, but it was later replaced by the present Jyozu Ita Honzon (a copy of the original in the Daishonin Nichiren Daishonin’s handwriting).

The interior of the hall is modeled after a Kabuki theater, with a palace in the back center above the Shumidan, and the Daimonji’s seat in the rear center of the inner sanctuary.

The outer sanctuary is located behind the inner sanctuary on both the left and right sides. The pillars of the Mikageido are decorated with gold leaf, and the interior walls and transoms are considered to be of high artistic value.

Other Facilities

In 1998, a purely Japanese-style guest hall was built, and in 2002, to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the founding of the sect, the Bongando Hall (where the “Dai-Gohonzon of the Honmon Kaiyadan” (the principal object of worship) is enshrined) was built. Other buildings include the Grand Lecture Hall built in 1958, Rokubon built in 1988, and Koububo built in 1994.

To the east of the temple grounds is a vast 11-hectare cemetery containing approximately 16,000 graves of Nichiren Shoshu followers.

In addition to the cemetery for the head priests and priests of the head temple, the cemetery for ordinary believers contains the graves of the Makiguchi family, the first president of the Soka Gakkai, and the Toda family, the second president. There is also the grave of actor Keiichiro Akagi.

Many beautiful cherry trees are planted in the precincts, and the weeping cherry tree in the central pagoda is especially famous as a scenic spot. The cherry trees along the Goto River (Jyuni-gawa River) and the Jokko-ga-mine are also well known as famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Shizuoka Prefecture.

However, visitors should be careful when visiting because public access is prohibited during the annual Reiho Mushiwari Daihokai (Great Buddhist rite for the repelling of insects) held on April 6 and 7 every year.

There is a stone-paved path connecting the main gate and the three gates of the temple, and on the way from the main gate to the three gates are the Koubu-bo and So-ni-bo buildings. These buildings are used as lodgings and meeting places for believers. There is also a Japanese garden, “Hoshoen,” on the temple grounds.