Nihon-ji
| Nihon-ji | |
|---|---|
Daibutsu of Nihon-ji
|
|
| Basic information | |
| Location | Nokogiriyama, Kyonan, Chiba Prefecture |
| Affiliation | Sōtō Zen |
| Deity | Shaka Nyorai |
| Country | Japan |
| Website | http://www.nihonji.jp/ |
| Architectural description | |
| Founder | Emperor Shōmu |
| Completed | 725 |
Coordinates: 35°9′23.07″N 139°49′55.6″E / 35.1564083°N 139.832111°E
Nihon-ji (日本寺 Nihon-ji?) is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kyonan, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The temple is located on the slopes of Mount Nokogiri and is known for its Nihon-ji Daibutsu. Nihon-ji was established as a Hossō sect temple, was transferred to the Tendai sect, and is now a Sōtō Zen temple. Since its founding the temple has fallen into ruin and been revived numerous times.
Nihon-ji was founded in the Nara period in 725 by order of Emperor Shōmu by the priest Gyōki (668–749). The temple is considered to be the Kantō region's sole Nara period chokugansho (勅願所?), or temple built by order of the emperor. Nihon-ji was founded by Gyōki as a Hossō Sect temple. In this period the temple had seven great halls, twelve smaller halls, and was home to 100 monks. By tradition Nihon-ji was visited in the Nara period by Rōben (689–774), a monk of the Kegon sect and founder of the Tōdai-ji in Nara, and later by Kūkai (774–835), founder of the Shingon or "True Word" school of Buddhism. In 857, by opportunity of a visit to the temple by the monk Ennin (793 or 794–864), Nihon-ji was transferred to the Tendai school of Buddhism.
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