Myoho-in Temple, Sanjusangendo

The information about Myoho-in Temple is presented here. Myoho-in Temple is a temple of the Tendai sect, whose founder is Dengyo-daishi Saicho, and is a highly prestigious temple that is considered one of the “Tendai San-Monzeki” (the three Tendai monzeki temples) along with Shoren-in Temple and Sanzen-in Temple. The first head monk of Myoho-in Temple was Dengyo-daishi Saicho. Myoho-in Temple once had Hoko-ji Temple, Sanjusangen-do, and Ima-Hie Shrine under its control.

• Temple Location Map ＆ Directions
• Temple History
• Temple Highlights

【Myoho-in Temple Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: 447 Myohoin Maekawa-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Higashiyama Shichijo bus stop (about 2 minutes on foot), Keihan Shichijo Station (about 10 minutes on foot)

【Opening Hours ＆ Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 9:00-16:00
Closed: Normally closed to the public. Open to the public in spring and fall.

【Entrance Fees ＆ Tickets (confirmation required)】

Individual: Adults 800 yen

【Myoho-in Temple History】

In 788, Dengyo-daishi Saicho, the founder of the Tendai sect, built a hermitage called Ichijo Shikan-in Temple, which houses the main statue of Yakushi Nyorai, on Mt. Hiei-zan. Ichijo Shikan-in Temple is the predecessor of Enryaku-ji Temple. Myoho-in Temple (妙法院) is said to have originated from a monk’s jubo (small temple) on Mt. Hiei-zan, which is called “Hiei-zan Sanzen-bo (3,000 small temples of Mt. Hiei)”. The first head monk of Myoho-in Temple was Dengyo-daishi Saicho. Incidentally, Myoho-in Temple is counted as one of the “Tendai San-Monzeki” along with Shoren-in Temple and Sanzen-in Temple, and Seiren-in Temple and Sansen-in Temple are said to have originated from a small temple on Mt. Hiei-zan, just like Myoho-in Temple. In addition, according to records such as the “Kacho Yoryaku”, Myoho-in Temple is said to have originated from Hongaku-in Temple (本覚院) in the Saito of Mt. Hiei-zan. It is said that Myoho-in Temple was succeeded in the early Heian period (794-1185) by Eryo of Hodo-in Temple in the Saito of Mt. Hiei-zan. In the late Heian period, Kaishu of Hongaku-in Temple in the Saito of Mt. Hiei-zan, changed the other name of Hongaku-in Temple to Myoho-in Temple. It is said that Myoho-in Temple moved to raku-chu (the center of Kyoto) at the end of the Heian period. It is said to have once been located at one time in Ayanokoji Kosaka, southwest of Yasaka Shrine. In 1160, the 77th Emperor Go-Shirakawa founded Ima-Hie Shrine as the guardian shrine of the Hojuji-dono, and in around 1170, Shoun, a monk of Myoho-in Temple, became the 1st Betto. It is said that Myoho-in Temple administered not only Hoju-ji Temple, which was built within the Hojuji-dono, but also Ima-Hie Shrine. In 1227, Myoho-in Temple became a monzeki temple when Sonsho Hoshinno, the 2nd prince of Go-Takakurain, entered the temple as the 18th head monk, and it became one of the Tendai San-Monzeki (the three Tendai monzeki temples). In 1325, Soncho Hoshinno, the prince of the 96th Emperor Go-Daigo, became the Myoho-in Monzeki. In 1331, Soncho Hoshinno was exiled to Sanuki Province (Kagawa) because of the Genko-no-Hen, in which Emperor Go-Daigo raised an army to overthrow the Kamakura Shogunate. It is said that Myoho-in Temple was called “Ayanokoji-bo”, “Ayanokoji-no-miya”, etc., and the main temple complex was located on the south side of Gion-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). It is said that Myoho-in Temple was burned down by the Onin War (1467-1477) in the middle of the Muromachi period (1336-1573), and was temporarily evacuated to Mt. Hiei-zan. It is said that when Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) of Hoko-ji Temple during the Aduchi Momoyama period (1573-1603), Myoho-in Temple was moved to its present location within the precincts of Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall). It is said that the present site was the site of Shoko-in Temple, which was founded by Docho, a monk of the Tendai sect who was trusted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. When Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) of Hoko-ji Temple was completed in 1595, Toyotomi Hideyoshi held sen-so kuyou (memorial service by 1,000 monks) for his parents and ancestors at Daibutsu Kyodo of Myoho-in Temple. In 1615, when the Toyotomi family was destroyed during the Osaka Natsu-no-ji, the head monk of Myoho-in Temple became the head monk of Hoko-ji Temple. When Toyokuni Shrine (Hokoku Shrine) and Hokoku-byo (mausoleum), where Toyotomi Hideyoshi was buried were destroyed by Tokugawa Ieyasu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s belongings were transferred to Myoho-in Temple. In 1863, during Hachigatsu Juhachinichi-no-seihen), Sanjo Sanetomo and the court nobles spent their last night in Shinden and fell to Choshu (Yamaguchi). After the Meiji Restoration, Ima-Hie Shrine was separated and became independent due to the separation of the Shinto and Buddhism and Haibutsukishaku. Houkou-ji Temple also separated and became independent. Myoho-in Temple was a large temple that also controlled Ima-Hie Shrine, Hoko-ji Temple, and Sanjusangendo, but Ima-Hie Shrine and Hoko-ji Temple were separated and became independent, and only Sanjusangendo is now Butsuden outside the precincts of Myoho-in Temple.
*reference・・・Myoho-in Temple website

【Myoho-in Temple Highlights (May be undisclosed)】

★O-Kuri (大庫裏, National Treasure) was built in 1595 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who held sen-so kuyou (memorial service of 1,000 monks) to mourn the bodhi of his ancestor at Hoko-ji Temple. O-Kuri was originally a kitchen, and there is a chimney on the roof. O-Kuri is divided into a dirt floor, a wooden floor, and a tatami room. O-Kuri is about 21.8 meters in front, 23.7 meters in side, and 18 meters high.
★Dai-Shoin (大書院, Important Cultural Property) was built as the palace of Tofukumonin (Tokugawa Masako), empress of the 108th Emperor Gomizunoo, and was moved to Myoho-in Temple in 1619. In Dai-Shoin, there are fusuma paintings of the Kano school.
★Gekan (Entrance, 玄関, Important Cultural Property) was built as the palace of Tofukumonin (Tokugawa Masako), empress of the 108th Emperor Gomizunoo, and was moved to Myoho-in Temple in 1619. In Gekan, there is a shikidai with a karahafu roof.
妙法院見どころ (Myoho-in Temple Highlights)

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Satsuki-e (五月会) is held every year on May 14th. Satsuki-e is held as a festival day for Fugen Bosatsu, who is mounted on an elephant with six tusks. During Satsuki-e, Myoho-in Temple, which is normally closed to the public, is opened to the public and Hokke-zanmai (memorial service) is held, and Dai-Shoin, the garden, and the statue of Fudo Myoo are open to the public.

【Telephone (Please refrain from making phone calls.)】

Tel: +81-75-561-0467

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Myoho-in Temple is southwest to Sanjusangendo. Sanjusangendo (Rengeoin Hondo), which is more than 100 meters long, houses more than 1,000 statues of Senju Kannon (Thousand-armed Kannon). In addition, Hoko-ji Temple, Toyokuni Shrine (Hokoku Shrine), Sanjusangendo, and Chishaku-in Temple are also good places to take a walk.

【Remarks（access, parking, disclaimer, etc）】
If you plan to visit Myoho-in Temple, be sure to check the latest information.