The Ugajin-do Hall In Nakayama Hokekyo-ji
The Ugajin-do Hall In Nakayama Hokekyo-ji
The Ugajindo Hall in
Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple is a small hall on a small hill behide
the Sochido Hall and
the Hodenmon Gate. This Ugajindo Hall is the head shrine of
Ugatokushoshin , the guardian deity of Hokekyoji Temple and he is famous for the god
of wealth. The history of Ugajindo Hall handing out there tells that
Ugajin appeared before the construction of the Soshido hall would began and told
if a hall dedicating him would be built he would protect Nakayama Hokekyoji
Temple. And according to Shochuzan Hokekyojishi, it was built for avoiding
an unlucky quarter of
Tokugawa Family in
Edo.
Around the Ugajindo Hall, believers enjoy flowers through years, so drooping
plum and drooping cherry bloom in spring, azaleas bloom in early summer
and fragrant olives blooms in fall. Behind the hall, there are the hall
dedicates
Kiyomasa Kato and the Ota-Inari shrine.
Ugajin
Ugajin is a generic name of the group of gods who has been believed to
give happiness to people since ancient time. It is also told the god of
food and agriculture. Ugajin often regard in the same god as Benzaiten
who is the god of happiness, profit, knowledge and wealth. There is a white
snake in his crown, then name of Ugajin sometimes signifies the white snake
or the dedicated white snake.
The god's name 'Uga' is named after Uka-no-mitama-no-kami appears on the myths in Japan in general. (There is another explanation that it is named after 'Ukaya' means 'zaise' (donation) in Buddism words.).
Its head is human's and the body is snake's, the statues are generally coiled, and there is no rule to make the head, some are young ladies and others are old ladies, etc.
Ugajin was adopted in the education at Enryaku-ji Temple in Hieizan (Tendai Sect), then Ugajin units or fuses syncreticaly the god of Buddhism Benzaiten. The united god is called 'Ugabenzaiten', Ugajin puts on the head of Benzaiten with toriis usually at that time.
The origin of Ugajin is unknown, it has no characteristics of the god of cereals in any scripts of Buddhism. Therefore it is sometimes told that Ugajin is created while the god had been united to Benzaiten.
The worshipping to Ugabenzaiten spread from Tikubujima Island in Omi-no-kuni (Shiga prefecture) to Itsukusima Island in Aki-no-kuni (Hiroshima Prefecture), Enoshima Island in Sagami-no-kuni (Kanagawa prefecture) and everywhere throughout Japan. Ugabenzaiten dedicated at these are changed to Ichikisimahimenomikoto at the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism in Meiji Era. It is rare case that Uga-jinja Shrine in Kamakura city, Kanagawa prefecture dedicates Ugajin now.
Benzaiten
Benzaiten is only a female god in the members of the seven gods of good
fortune, and she is originally a goddess in the Indian myth, Sarasvati
(called in Sanskrit), she is a wife of Brahma and the goddess of large
rivers. 'Sarasvati' is feminin noun, means 'one who has water', so she
is the goddess of music, knowledge since it comes from water flowing. Sarasvati
is first called Benzaiten in Japan and also introduced as a goddess of
knowledge. In Buddhism, Benzaiten appears on 'konkomei saisyo ou kyo' (the
Golden Light Sutra of the Most Victorious Kings) at first, and it says
that she gives knowledge, wealth and long life to people who preach and
listen to the sutra. Howvere, she had often worshipped as a goddess of
skills, and she united and mixed with Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto, therefore
her statues are generally painted white in her skin with crown on her head
and with biwa harp on her arm.
After the middle Ages, Benzaiten has been worshipped as the god of property and she has become a member of the seven gods of good fortune. It is told that Benzaiten has the miraculous virtue of knowledge, property, charm and matchmaking.
Benzaiten has been dedicated on the different side of Ugatokushoshin since the ancient times. Therefore Ugatokushoshin in Nakayama Hokekyo-ji Temple might be dedicated on the different side of Benzaiten as it had been built. There are thousands of visitors come to pray it as Benzaiten is famous for fulfillment of their wishes.
Uka-no-mitama
Uka means 'Uke (eating; by euphonic change), thus it represents food,
Uka-no-mitama is the god of rice. Sometimes it is called Uke-no-mitama.
出典・抜粋・引用および参考
中山法華経寺宇賀神堂の由来(案内文)
正中山法華経寺誌
日蓮宗各本山名所図会
デジタル大辞林
ウィッキペディア
日蓮宗大荒行ホームページより
株式会社アイエムホームページ(エリアごとの寺院案内 奥ノ院)より
The Access to The Ugajin-do Hall In Nakayama Hokekyoji
The Ugajin-do Hall In Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple
- The Ugajin-do Hall in Nakayama Hokekyouji Temple has great accessibilities from both Narita and Haneda International Airport.
- From Narita International Airport, take Keisei-line and get off Keisei-Nakayama Sta, take minimally 40 minutes from Narita Airport.. And also take JR Sobu-express line, transfer the line at Funabashi to Sobu-Local line, get off Shimousa-Nakayama Sta.
- From Haneda International Airport, take Keikyu-line bound to Narita, and get off Keisei-Nakayama Sta.
- From Tokyo Sta, take Sobu-Express line bound to Chiba or Narita, transfer the line to Sobu-Local line bound to Chiba, Tsudanuma, or Nishi-Funabashi at Ichikawa Sta, get off Shimousa-Nakayama Sta.
- From Akihabara Sta, take Sobu line bound to Chiba, get off Shimousa-Nakayama Sta.
- Take 5 minute walk from Keisei-Nakayama Sta, and take 8 minutes walk from Shimousa-Nakayama Sta.
- 2-10-1 Nakayama, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-pref, Japan
The Landmarks in Nakayama Hokekyouji Temple
Takikyakuden is the main hall of Hokekyoji and it has the business office and Kishibojindo Hall dedicated to the goddess of children on the end of the long corrido of the main hall.
In spring, there is millions of cherry blossoms in Hokekyoji and in summer, lotus blooms on ryuo-ike pond. In fall, there are beautiful colored leaves. Every season, visitors could enjoy seeing the sights.
It is characterized the twin hip-and-gable roof structure (hiyoku-irimoya-style), and hengaku written by Koetsu Honami hangs in front.
It was built in early Edo period (1622) by request of Koshitsu Honami supported by Maeda Family in Kaga.
It was built in Kamakura period.
It was moved from Aizen-dou in Kamakura 700 years ago.
It was designed by the famous architect Chuta Ito, it stores many scripts
written by the Founder Nichiren.
It enshrines Kiyomasa Kato, one of the most famous daimyo in Sengoku period.
From Nov 1 to Feb 10, hundreds of Buddhist priests practice severly every year.
The henguku hunged in front of the gate was written by Koetsu Honami, famous artist in Momoyama Period.
It was built for worshipping Jurasetsunyo, Kishibozin, Daikokusama.
It is also called Sou-mon (the main gate).
The founder Nichiren built the small shrine to dedicate the dragon god to pray for rain.
It enshrins Ugazin who is the guardian deity of Hokekyou-ji Temple.
It dedicates Hokushin Myouken Star that the Chiba Family deeply believed in, Hokekyoji traditionally succeeds. In November, Tori-no-ich is held in the site to dedicate the star.
The founder Nichiren preached first time at the Toki's castle called Wkakamiya Yakata. And Toki built a temple 'Hokkeji', it is the origin of Oku no In.
It was built in 1719 by famous caster Ota Suruga-no-kami in Kanda. It is the bigest great Buddha in Chiba prefecture.
Nichijo was the first abbot of Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple and Naki Icho is a gingko tree having a sad legend.
There are some other landmarks in Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple.
Koetsu Honami specially remained his calligraphy in Hokekyo-ji Temple, and Shiki Masaoka, Kafu Nagai discribed it well.
Some tacchue temples are introduced in this page.
There are some noted spots, Kaii Higashiyama Memorial Hall and so on, near Hokekyoji.
Cherry blossoms in Hokekyoji are amazingly wonderful.