Shigisan Chogosonshi-ji Temple-founded by Prince Shotoku | Nara

Prince Shotoku founded Shigisan Chogosonshi-ji Temple! The reason why there are many tigers in the precincts of the temple.

Shigisan Chogosonshi-ji Temple is located on Mount Shigi in Hegurigun, Ikoma County, Nara Prefecture, and is the head temple of the Shigisan Shingon sect of Buddhism.
The temple was founded in 587 by Prince Shotoku with Bishamonten (the goddess of mercy) as its principal image, which was carved by Shotoku Taishi himself.
Shigisan, where the temple was founded, is said to have been named by Prince Shotoku as “Noble mountain to be believed”.
The temple grounds are filled with papier-mâché tigers and other wooden and bronze tigers (including the oldest “laughing tiger” on Mount Shigi).
It is said that this is because Prince Shotoku received the blessing of Bishamonten, the main deity of the temple, in 582, the year, month, day, and hour of the tiger, before the temple was founded.

Inside the “main hall,” where the main deity, Bishamonten, is enshrined, there is a statue of the 28 messengers of the Bishamonten King, which can only be seen when you pray (application required).

Chogosonshi-ji Temple, revered by the emperor, was destroyed by fire during the Warring States Period.

Chogosonshi-ji Temple was built in the Heian period (794-1185) by a priest named Myouren.
Myoren cured the illness of the 60th Emperor Daigo, and the temple was revered by the Emperor as a temple to pray for “peace in the temples, protection of the nation, and longevity of descendants,” and was given the imperial title of “Chogosonshi-ji Temple.

In the Warring States Period, Shigisan Castle was built on Shigisan, where the temple is located, and in 1560, Hisahide Matsunaga, a vassal of Nagayoshi Miyoshi, entered the castle.
However, when Oda Nobunaga attacked Shigisan Castle in 1577, Shigisan Castle fell, and the buildings of the temple were destroyed by fire.
Thereafter, the temple was in a period of ruin, but in 1610, Toyotomi Hideyori rebuilt the main hall and other buildings (it became a place of prayer for Toyotomi Hideyori).

Shigisan Engi Emaki, the only national treasure at Chogosonshi-ji Temple.

The “Shigisan Engi Emaki”, designated as a national treasure, can be seen at the Reihokan.
This picture scroll is one of the four great picture scrolls (the other three being “The Tale of Genji Picture Scroll,” “The Caricatures of Birds and Beasts,” and “Ban Dainagon Picture Scroll”) and was designated a national treasure in 1951.
Although the author is unknown, the work consists of three volumes: “Yamazaki Chosha no Maki”, “Engi-Kamochi no Maki”, and “Nun Kou no Maki”, which depict the discourses of Priest Meiren on Mount Shigi.
Although the scroll seen at the temple is a facsimile (the original is housed in the Nara National Museum), it is said to be the first to use dramatic expressions in its depictions.
Incidentally, this picture scroll is said to be the root of Japanese manga culture along with “Birds, Beasts, and Humans Caricatures.

Access to Shigisan Chogosonshi-ji Temple

2280-1, Shikiyama, Heigun-cho, Ikoma-gun, Nara 636-0923, Japan

Parking around Shigisan Chogosonshi-ji Temple

Shigisan Chogosonshi-ji Temple Official Website

Official site：https://www.sigisan.or.jp/en/

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