The Honpo-ji Temple (本法寺 (京都市))
The Honpo-ji Temple, located at Teranouchi, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, is a Honzan (a major temple of the Nichiren Sect) and a Yuisho jiin (a historically important temple of the Nichiren Sect). Its sango (literally, "a mountain name"), the title prefixed to the name of a Buddhist temple, is Eisho-san. Its principal image of worship is Jikkai Mandala (Ten Worlds Mandala). It is one of the Rakuchu Hokke 21 kaji (historically the twenty-one, presently sixteen, head temples of the Nichiren Sect in Kyoto).
History
The temple was founded by Nisshin in 1436 at the corner of Higashinotoin-dori Street and Ayanokoji-dori Street. It once evacuated to Sakai City avoiding the Tenmon Hokke Disturbance, and then returned to Kyoto to be reconstructed at the corner of Ichijo-dori Street and Horikawa-dori Street. In 1587 following the order from Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI, it moved to the present location.
The temple possesses the pictures painted by Tohaku HASEGAWA in the Azuchi-Momoyama period and their related materials.
It is the head temple of the Shinshi Hoen (scholastic faction of Nichiren Sect). Presently Nichigyo OTSUKA Kanju (the honorific title of the head priest) serves as the eighty-eighth head priest of the temple.
Temple buildings
Nio-mon Gate (Gate of Deva)
Main hall, constructed in 1797
Two-storey pagoda, constructed during the Kansei era, 1789 - 1801
Temple hall commemorating its founding or founder
Bell tower
Scripture house, constructed in 1588
Kuri (priests' quarters)
Study or lecture hall
Sonyo-in
Kyogyo-in
Kyozo-in
Tomoe no niwa, the Garden of Tomoe (huge comma design) or Mitsudomoe no niwa, the Garden of three comma-shaped design
Tsunashi no niwa, the Garden of Tsunashi (ten stones)
Cultural properties
Important Cultural Properties
Two hanging scrolls of color paintings on silk of lotus flowers
Color paintings on silk of a group of Kai
Three scrolls of monochrome ink painting on silk of the figure of Manjusri at the center with Han-shan and Shi-de on the both sides
Data for Tohaku HASEGAWA
Color painting on silk of portrait of Nichigyo by Nobuharu (also pronounced Shinshun) HASEGAWA
Color painting on silk of a portrait of Nittsu by Tohaku HASEGAWA
Monochrome ink painting on paper of a portrait of Myoho nun attributed to Tohaku HASEGAWA
Color painting on paper of Nirvana or Buddha's death by Tohaku HASEGAWA
Tohaku gasetsu (explanation about Tohaku's paintings) handwritten by Nittsu
Attached to Nittsu's letter (to Tohaku HASEGAWA dated January 26 (old lunar calendar)), the abstract of Hokkeron (the treatise on the Lotus Sutra), Mandala as the principal object of worship of the temple
Shishi kinji hokke kyo (the Lotus Sutra, in golden lettering on purple paper), attached letter and sutra box decorated with flowers and arabesques, letter of donation by Koetsu HONAMI
Hokke daimoku sho (abstract of the Lotus Sutra) handwritten by Koetsu HONAMI
Nyosetsu shugyo sho (manuscript of Nyosetsu shugyo sho of Nichiren, a letter to his followers), handwritten by Koetsu HONAMI
Kondo Hoto (two storey pagoda made of copper)
Scenic beauties (government-designated)
Tomoe no niwa, the Garden of Tomoe (huge comma design), designed by Koetsu HONAMI
Registered cultural properties designated by Kyoto Prefecture
Main hall
Temple hall commemorating its founding or founder
Two-storey pagoda
Nio mon (Gate of Deva)
Belfry
Scripture house
Priests' quarters
Study or lecture hall
Grand entrance
Karamon (Chinese-style gate)
Treasure house
Stone bridge
Munafuda 13mai (thirteen wooden tags commemorating the foundation of the temple)
Access
Fifteen minutes walk from the Kuramaguchi Station of the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line
Nearby facilities
Urasenke Center
Chado Research Center Gallery