History Renge-in Tanjō-ji

five-ring stupas, municipal cultural properties of tamana



an excavated statuette

in middle ages, temple called jōkō-ji stood on site of present main temple of renge-in tanjō-ji. higo chronicle written in edo period states taira no shigemori ordered construction of jōkō-ji along 2 five-ring stupas (五輪塔), great south gate, , nunnery named myōshō-ji (妙性寺). since shigemori, eldest son of taira no kiyomori, born in 1138 , died in 1179, jōkō-ji seems have been built during last decades of heian period. however, statement in higo chronicle cannot supported surviving contemporary documents.

the oldest document mentions jōkō-ji tōmyō-ji document written in 1298 in kamakura period, in stated jōkō-ji of higo province privately built shramana ekū. although cannot determine jōkō-ji of higo province mentioned there indeed jōkō-ji renge-in of taira no shigemori mentioned in higo chronicle or former succeeded latter, safe assume jōkō-ji built either @ end of heian period or beginning of kamakura period.

an excavation in 1960s @ site of present main hall revealed several buddhist instruments kamakura period. therefore, conjectured main hall of jōkō-ji once stood there or near site. these objects, designated municipal cultural properties of tamana in 2008, on exhibit @ renge-in tanjō-ji.

according old documents of saidai-ji kamakura period , muromachi period, unquestionable jōkō-ji continued exist 1290 @ least 1478. since temple no longer existed in edo period, seems reasonable suppose destroyed during wars of sengoku period. however, no document far has been discovered corroborate conjecture.

from restoration in shōwa era present

bronze statue of zeshin kawahara



oku-no-in

in first years of shōwa period, there few houses, fields, , little woods scattered around on former site of jōkō-ji. these woods believed locals haunted wrathful spirit, and, in 1929, zeshin kawahara, psychic neighboring city of arao, sought out psychic abilities appease spirit.

in morning of december 10, while reciting sutras in shanty on former site of jōkō-ji, heard voice telling him acharya kōen who, 760 years ago now, granted draconic form @ sakuraga-ike pond in enshū. wishes being fulfilled, grant thee merit. rebuild renge-in sake of salvation of people. although zeshin, 34 years old @ time, had never heard either of kōen or sakuraga-ike pond, convinced of gravity of spiritual communication, commenced restoration of temple. aided local villagers, small main hall completed next march. in following years, acharya hall, dining hall (食堂), , visitors center added. temple restored named renge-in tanjō-ji ( birth temple ) in honor of maha-bodhisattva kōen s birthplace on stands. small main hall renovated daigan-dō (大願堂) in 1950, which, in turn, transformed present main hall of reinforced concrete in 1966. zeshin fulfilled kōen s command; psychic power mahasiddha further strengthened on years due innate spiritual abilities , strenuous training, applied, under kōen s protection, salvation of distressed. result, number of devotees gradually increased on country.

upon death of zeshin in 1977, shin-nyo kawahara took abbotship. november 3, 1978 saw opening celebration of oku-no-in on mt. shōdai, had been under construction @ wish of former abbot, making renge-in more accessible not devotees visitors. practitioner of fuse-gyō (布施行, almsgiving practice), started support cambodian refugees. based on experience, founded nonprofit organization association renge-in tanjō-ji international cooperation (artic short), devoted providing needy around globe humanitarian aids. founded committee raising parent-caring children, , advocated , encouraged closer relationship between parent , child inviting elementary , middle school students on japan submit poems on mothers. naikan institute, domestic international visitors can practice naikan (guiding in english available), established during abbotship.

eishō kawahara succeeded shin-nyo in 1992 , became abbot third restorer. through artic, has expanded temple s humanitarian activities in more various countries such sri lanka, tibet, , myanmar.　domestically, sent teams of volunteers during great hanshin earthquake of 1995 , great east japan earthquake of 2011. 14th dalai lama invited in 2005 perform world peace homa ceremony @ main temple , give lecture @ oku-no-in. wooden five-story pagoda completed in 1997 , great south gate in 2011, both using traditional architectural techniques. awakening rite statues of 4 heavenly kings, works busshi tsukumo imamura housed in great south gate, performed simultaneously opening ceremony gate.

the 4 heavenly kings of great south gate: left right, dhṛtarāṣṭra (jikoku-ten), virūḍhaka (zōjō-ten), virūpākṣa (kōmoku-ten), , vaiśravaṇa (tamon-ten).