Taiseki-ji
Taiseki-ji temple complex 大石寺 | |
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Taisekiji Tatchū in early April spring season | |
Information | |
Mountain name |
TahÅ Fuji Dainichirenge-zan (多å®å¯Œå£«å¤§æ—¥è“®è¯å±±) |
Denomination | Nichiren ShÅshÅ« |
Venerated | Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teachings |
Founded | 1290 |
People | |
Founder(s) | NikkÅ |
Priest(s) | Nichinyo Shonin |
Location | |
Address | Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka, Mount Fuji |
Country | Japan |
Website | http://www.nichirenshoshu.or.jp/ |
Taiseki-ji (大石寺 (多å®å¯Œå£«å¤§æ—¥è“®è¯å±±å¤§çŸ³å¯º) TahÅ Fuji Dainichirenge-zan Taiseki-ji) is the head temple (ç·æœ¬å±± sÅhonzan) of the Nichiren ShÅshÅ« school of the Nikko branch of Nichiren Buddhism. It is located on the lower slopes of Mount Fuji in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
Taiseki-ji was founded in the year 1290 by NikkÅ ShÅnin, one of Nichiren's immediate disciples and is known for hosting the venerated Dai-Gohonzon within the Hoando building complex. The land complex is visited annually by faithful believers who go on Tozan religious pilgrimages.
Taiseki-ji today
Nichiren ShÅshū’s head temple is the administrative center, and its chief abbot (貫主 kanzu) is simultaneously the high priest (法主 Hossu) of Nichiren ShÅshÅ«. The current High Priest is Nichinyo Hayase (1935–), who assumed the position on December 16, 2005, and is the 68th in a lineage that Nichiren ShÅshÅ« traces back to Nichiren (1222–1282). The formal reference to the current high priest is commonly styled as 68th High Priest Nichinyo ShÅnin in English.
Because it is the head temple of Nichiren ShÅshÅ« and therefore home of the Dai Gohonzon, Nichiren ShÅshū’s ultimate object of veneration, Taiseki-ji is visited by believers from all around the world who come on personal pilgrimages, to participate in regular ceremonies, or to take part in large events such as temple-group pilgrimages, workshop-like study programs, and large rally-like meetings. The temple is visited by several hundred thousand pilgrims a year, and its compound is known for several historically significant buildings, its gardens, and the old weeping cherry trees that line its tatchÅ« (main path lined with lodging temples). Map of Taisekiji

Regular ceremonies and events
- First gongyÅ of the year (from 2:30AM on January 1)
- New Year's pilgrimage (January 1–4)
- Koshi-e (Memorial services for and commemoration of 2nd High Priest NikkŠShonin, February 6–7)
- Nichiren's birthday (February 16)
- Spring Higan-e (March 20 or 21)
- Omushibarai (Airing of the Treasures ceremony) (April 6–7)
- Summer study workshops (June–July)
- Urabon-e (August 15)
- Gonan-e (Commemoration of the Tatsunokuchi Persecution, September 12)
- Kanshi-e (Memorial services for and commemoration of 26th High Priest Nichikan Shonin, September 18–19)
- Autumn Higan-e (September 23)
- Ushi-e (Memorial services for and commemoration of 9th High Priest Nichiu Shonin, September 29)
- Mokushi-e (Memorial services for and commemoration of 3rd High Priest Nichimoku Shonin, November 14–15)
- Nichiren DaishÅnin Gotai-e (often called Oeshiki; memorial services for and commemoration of the life and teachings of Nichiren DaishÅnin, November 20–21)
Events in bold are positioned as the two most important ceremonies of the year.
History
Founding and early period
According to Nichiren ShÅshÅ« tradition, Taiseki-ji was founded in 1290 by Nichiren’s disciple NikkÅ on a tract of land called ÅŒishi-ga-hara (大石ケ原) (Big Stone Field) donated by the district steward, NanjÅ Tokimitsu (1259–1332). The name derives from an alternate reading of the kanji for ÅŒishi (大石), taiseki, and ji (寺), which means temple. Tokimitsu was one of Nichiren’s lay followers and he looked up to NikkÅ as his personal teacher. It started with one small temple building but grew gradually as NikkÅ’s disciples built sub-temples. It went through further growth phases during the mid-Edo period and in the post-World War II period.
Prominent High Priests
- 9th High Priest Nichiu Shonin
- 26th High Priest Nichikan Shonin
- 59th High Priest Nichiko Shonin
- 66th High Priest Nittatsu Shonin
- 67th High Priest Nikken Shonin
- 68th High Priest Nichinyo Shonin (current)
Buildings
Sanmon Gate
The Sanmon (written 三門, sometimes 山門) gate is Taiseki-ji’s “front door†and has been designated as a Shizuoka prefectural cultural asset. It was built in 1717 with donations from Tenneiin, the wife of sixth Shogun Tokugawa Ienobu.
Mutsubo
The first Mutsubo (å…壷) was erected in 1290, making this historically Taiseki-ji’s first building. It has been rebuilt many times since. The current structure, which uses much keyaki heartwood, was completed in 1988.
Reception Hall
The Kyakuden (客殿: Reception Hall) was first built in 1465. The current structure, a wood-clad steel-framed structure, was completed in 1998 and replaced the a previous steel-reinforced concrete building from 1964. The previous structure was built and donated by the laybelievers of Nichiren Shoshu and was replaced because of worries about structural integrity in a major earthquake. The priesthood also cited its imposing ferroconcrete mass as incongruent with the architectural tone appropriate for a temple compound. A pre-war building, which had been requisitioned by the military, burnt down in a June 1945 fire that claimed the life of 62nd High Priest NikkyŠShonin.
The Reception Hall is the site of ushitora GongyÅ, a prayer service performed daily at the transition from the “hour of the ox (ushi)†to the “hour of the tiger (tora).†The service begins at about 2:30am and ends about an hour later. This is believed to mark the transition from darkness to light as well as the hour at which all Buddhas attain enlightenment. The service is customarily officiated by the high priest or his proxy. During the service, the officiating priest sits at the front of the room, to the left of and facing the congregation of priests and laity gathered in front of the altar. This signifies that he is guiding the congregation to the Gohonzon so they can achieve enlightenment. The purpose of the service is, among other things, to pray for the spread of the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin throughout the world and thereby bring about peace and prosperity for all humankind.
MieidÅ
The original MieidÅ (å¾¡å½±å ‚: image hall) was built in 1522. The MieidÅ houses an image of Nichiren DaishÅnin (hence its name) dating from 1388. The current, classical structure was built in 1632 and has had several subsequent renovations, the most recent major one in 1971. It was designated a cultural asset by Shizuoka Prefecture in 1971. After a major renovation that took ten years, the Mieido was reopend in November 2013. For the renovation, the whole structure was taken apart, piece by piece, damaged parts were repaired, and finally rebuild into its original state. But, underneath the antique structure, and invisible for the eye, a modern, earthquake resistant system is integrated.
HÅandÅ
The HÅandÅ (å¥‰å®‰å ‚: hÅan is an honorific form of a verb meaning to enshrine or place in an altar; dÅ is a large building or hall) houses the Dai-Gohonzon, the supreme object of veneration in Nichiren ShÅshÅ«.
The HÅandÅ is built in the style of a traditional Japanese storehouse to signify that kosen-rufu (広宣æµå¸ƒ) has yet to be achieved. Loosely defined, kÅsen rufu means that the Nichiren ShÅshÅ« faith has taken hold as the primary religion of the world’s people. This is significant to the Nichiren ShÅshÅ« faithful because they believe that, according to Nichiren’s will, the Dai-Gohonzon is not to be made publicly accessible, but rather stored away and only viewed by those who have asked for and been granted an audience by the high priest, until kÅsen rufu has been achieved. A further symbol of this is that, different from all other Nichiren ShÅshÅ« altars, the one in the HÅandÅ is not decorated with an offering of evergreens, and non-believers are permitted in the building only on special occasions.
The HÅandÅ replaced the ShÅhondÅ (æ£æœ¬å ‚: true main hall), the Dai-Gohonzon’s previous home. Before the ShÅhondÅ was completed in 1972, the Dai-Gohonzon had been kept locked away in a storehouse called the Treasure House (御å®è”µ: GohÅzÅ) or enshrined in the HÅanden (奉安殿), another storehouse-like structure built behind the Treasure House.[1]
Treasure House
The treasure house (Gohozo) is only open to believers. Inside there are some scrolls and paintings of importance to this sect of Nichiren Buddhism, as well as information about the religion and its history. It also features modest displays of cultural objects from countries where they have attracted converts.
Pagoda
Completed in 1749, Taiseki-ji’s pagoda (TÅ) faces west rather than the usual south to signify that Nichiren Buddhism would spread from the east (Japan) to the west (back to the land of Sakyamuni Buddha and beyond). It is the largest five-storied pagoda along the TÅkaidÅ, the historical main highway along Japan’s eastern seaboard from Edo (today’s Tokyo) to Kyoto. The structure was designated a national cultural treasure in 1966. It is opened every February 16 for ceremonies to celebrate Nichiren’s birthday.
ShÅhondÅ

The ShÅhondÅ was the main temple building at Taiseki-ji, from 1972 until its demolition in 1998. It was built to house the Dai-Gohonzon, an inscribed wood block mandala which is the True Object of Worship of Nichiren ShÅshÅ«. In 1968 approximately 8,000,000 Soka Gakkai adherents contributed money to construct the building.[2]
The ShÅhondÅ was regarded as an important work of post-war Japanese architecture, noted for its vast unsupported roof span. The construction of the ShÅhondÅ was funded largely by the personal donations of the lay believers of the Nichiren ShÅshÅ«. An estimated Â¥35,536,000,000 was raised, of which Â¥35,064,300,000 came from SÅka Gakkai adherents, Â¥313,820,000 from HokkekÅ adherents and Â¥157,870,000 from priests and their families.[3]
Nichiren ShÅshÅ« concedes that its demolition of the ShÅhondÅ was an extension of the doctrinal dispute between it and the SÅka Gakkai.[4] The then Nichiren ShÅshÅ« High Priest, Nikken ShÅnin, decided to replace the ShÅhondÅ with the HÅandÅ.
The demolition caused widespread dismay among architects, including Richard Meier and Robert A M Stern. Terence Riley, chief curator of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, said that the planned demolition would be a "regrettable finale" to a century that has "witnessed so much loss."[5]
External links
- The Origin of Taisekiji Temple on the Nichiren Shoshu website.
35°16′56″N 138°35′09″E / 35.282107°N 138.5858°ECoordinates: 35°16′56″N 138°35′09″E / 35.282107°N 138.5858°E
Map of Taisekiji on the Nichiren Shoshu website
Sources and references
- Nichiren ShÅshÅ« nyÅ«mon (日蓮æ£å®—入門: Introduction to Nichiren Shoshu), Taiseki-ji, 2002
Notes
- ↑ ShÅhondÅ was largely built at the behest of Soka Gakkai, but the Nichiren ShÅshÅ« priesthood stripped Soka Gakkai of its status as a lay organization in 1991 and later determined that a structure built by an organization that had turned heretical was no longer suited to house the Dai-Gohonzon: In the priesthood’s eyes, Soka Gakkai had proved through its actions that its motivation for building the ShÅhondÅ was impure, so Nichiren ShÅshÅ« had the ShÅhondÅ torn down. In this context, Nichiren ShÅshÅ« freely concedes that its demolition of the ShÅhondÅ was an extension of the doctrinal dispute between it and Soka Gakkai (SÅka Gakkai-in e no shakubuku kyÅhon [Text for refuting Soka Gakkai's misrepresentations to its members], Takisekiji, 2004. p. 330–331). There had been friction over the naming of the building from around the time construction began because many Nichiren ShÅshÅ« priests felt that, given that kÅsen rufu had not yet been achieved, it was too early to erect Taiseki-ji’s "True Main Hall" (Ibid, p. 74–75). Taisekiji has traditionally regarded the MieidÅ (see above) as the temple’s hondÅ (main hall), but only its provisional main hall until kÅsen rufu is achieved, when the building housing the Dai-Gohonzon would take over that role. Note that almost all temples, regardless of school, have one building or section of a building considered their hondÅ, which is usually where their most significant ceremonies are held.
- ↑ Ikeda, Kiyoaki Murata ; foreword by Daisaku (1969). Japan's new Buddhism : an objective account of Soka Gakkai. ([1st ed.]. ed.). New York: Weatherhill. p. 135. ISBN 978-0834800403.
- ↑ Corrigendum in Dai-Nichiren, July 1991. Published by Nichiren ShÅshÅ«.
- ↑ SÅka Gakkai-in e no shakubuku kyÅhon (Text for refuting Soka Gakkai's misrepresentations to its adherents), Taisekiji, 2004. pp. 330– 331.
- ↑ "A Major Eruption At the Foot of Fuji". members.aol.com. Washington Post. June 14, 1998. Archived from the original on 1999-11-03. This article is also referenced in Jane Hurst, "A Buddhist Reformation", in Global Citizens: The Soka Gakkai Buddhist Movement in the World eds. David W. Machacek, Bryan R. Wilson, Oxford University Press, 2001, p.70
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