Myojoji Temple

Myojoji Temple

Myojoji Temple (妙成寺) is a temple of the Nichiren school in Takidani-machi, Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture, founded in 1294, and ten of its buildings, including the main hall, the founder's hall and the five-storied pagoda, are designated Important Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Hakui City). Its mountain name is Kin'eizan, and Hakui City describes it as a leading temple of the Hokuriku region with the rank of a head temple of the Nichiren school.

Origins

According to Hakui City, Myojoji traces its beginnings to Manzo Hoin, a mountain ascetic of Tenpyoji on Mount Sekidozan, who became a follower of Nichizo, a second-generation disciple of Nichiren, and took the name Nichijo. With the support of Shibahara Shogen, a local landholder in Takidani, Nichijo founded Myojoji here.

In the Edo period the temple enjoyed generous patronage from the Maeda lords of the Kaga domain. It became the family temple of Jufukuin, mother of the third lord Maeda Toshitsune, who donated a full set of temple buildings (Hakui City).

How the Precinct Is Built

According to the temple's website, its buildings were raised early in the Edo period by Yamagami Zen'emon and his workshop, master carpenters retained by the Kaga domain who also built Zuiryuji in Takaoka.

The layout is distinctive. Three halls stand in a single line: the main hall in the centre, the founder's hall to its right and the Sankodo to its left as you face them (temple website). The temple says this arrangement, once found at Nichiren temples before the early modern period, survives as originally built only at Myojoji. The five-storied pagoda stands on a rise within the grounds.

Each building's page covers its structure and date.

The Ten Important Cultural Properties

Each of Myojoji's ten buildings was designated an Important Cultural Property in one of three stages (Agency for Cultural Affairs): the main hall, founder's hall and pagoda in 1906; the Niomon, bell tower, sutra hall, Sanjubanshindo, Sankodo and Shoin in 1917; and the priests' quarters in 1965.

All date from the early Edo period, from the main hall of 1604 to the sutra hall of 1670 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

According to Hakui City, the temple is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from April to October and 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from November to March. Admission is 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for junior high school students and under (450 and 270 yen for groups of 30 or more), and there is free parking for 100 cars. Telephone: 0767-27-1226.

Hakui City notes that not every cultural property can be seen at all times. If you hope to see inside particular buildings, check with the temple first.