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Nakayama is in between Narita And Haneda International Airport

The Ugajin-do Hall In Nakayama Hokekyo-ji

The ugajin-do hall in 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

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

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-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
plums blooming beside Ugajindo Hall Drooping cherry blossoms in Hokekyo-ji Azalea blossoms in front of the Ugajin-do The azaleas around the ugajin-do The fragrant olives beside the Ugajin-do Ugajindo Hall in fall

The Access to The Ugajin-do Hall In Nakayama Hokekyoji

The Ugajin-do Hall In Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple

the map in Nakayama Hokekyoji

The map in Nakayama Hokekyoji

Please click below for printing!
PDF of the Map in Nakayama Hokekyoji
the map near Nakayama Hokekyoji

The map near Hokekyoji and Kaii Higashiyama Memorial Hall

PDF of the map near Hokekyoji and Kaii Higashiyama

the landmarks related to Kafu Nagai

The map to the landmarks where Kafu Nagai introduced in his book

PDF of the map of the noted spots where Kafu Nagai visited

  • 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

the main building

Honin(Taikyakuden)・Kishibojindo(Sonshindo)

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.
cherry blossoms in Hokekyou-ji

The Four Seasons In Hokekyoji

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.

Soshi-dou, important cultural property

Soshido(Daido), the nationally important cultural property

It is characterized the twin hip-and-gable roof structure (hiyoku-irimoya-style), and hengaku written by Koetsu Honami hangs in front.
gojyu-no-tou, important cultural property

Goju-no-to (the five-story pagoda) , the nationally important cultural property

It was built in early Edo period (1622) by request of Koshitsu Honami supported by Maeda Family in Kaga.

Yon-soku-mon, important cultural property

Yon-soku-mon (the nationally important cultural property)

It was moved from Aizen-dou in Kamakura 700 years ago.

syougyou-den in Hokekyou-ji

Shougyoden (the treasure hall)

It was designed by the famous architect Chuta Ito, it stores many scripts written by the Founder Nichiren.
kiyomasa-kou dai-zingi-dou

Shogan-jyoujyu-kigan-do (kiyomasa-kou-dai-zingi-do)

It enshrines Kiyomasa Kato, one of the most famous daimyo in Sengoku period.

aragyou-dou in Hokekyou-ji

Aragyodo Hall (the hall where Buddhiist priests practice for 100 days in winter severly)

From Nov 1 to Feb 10, hundreds of Buddhist priests practice severly every year.
Deva Gate called the Red Gate or Triple Gate

The Nio-mon Gate (The Deva Gate)

The henguku hunged in front of the gate was written by Koetsu Honami, famous artist in Momoyama Period.

Setsu-dou in Hokekyou-ji

Setsu-do

It was built for worshipping Jurasetsunyo, Kishibozin, Daikokusama.
Black Gate of Hokekyou-ji

Black Gate(a tangible cultural asset by Ichikawa City)

It is also called Sou-mon (the main gate).

the hall of the eight great dragon gods

Hachidai-ryuo-do

The founder Nichiren built the small shrine to dedicate the dragon god to pray for rain.
Ugazin-dou in Hokekyou-ji

Ugazin-do

It enshrins Ugazin who is the guardian deity of Hokekyou-ji Temple.

Myoken-do in Hokekyo-ji

Myouken-do

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.
Hokekyo-ji Okuno-in

Oku-no-in (the first place where Nichren had preached at)

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.

daibutsu in Hokekyo-ji Temple

The Great Buddha(The Seated Statue of Shaka Nyorai)

It was built in 1719 by famous caster Ota Suruga-no-kami in Kanda. It is the bigest great Buddha in Chiba prefecture.
the first abbot, Nichijyo of Hokekyo-ji

The statue of Nichijo and Naki-Icho

Nichijo was the first abbot of Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple and Naki Icho is a gingko tree having a sad legend.

letters by Koetsu Honami

The artists, poets and writers related to Hokekyoji Temple

Koetsu Honami specially remained his calligraphy in Hokekyo-ji Temple, and Shiki Masaoka, Kafu Nagai discribed it well.

Kaii Higashiyama Memorial Hall

A Walk on the the area around Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple

There are some noted spots, Kaii Higashiyama Memorial Hall and so on, near Hokekyoji.

Sakura and Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple

The Popular Viewing Sakura Spot / Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple

Cherry blossoms in Hokekyoji are amazingly wonderful.

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