Soshi-do at Hokekyo-ji Temple has the twin hip-and-gable roof structure

中山法華経寺hokekyou-ji upon nakayama

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The Soshi-do Hall In Nakayama Hokekyo-ji

Passing through the approach road of Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple, there is a five-story pagoda and a big hall having two rooves in front. The hall is called Hokekyoji Soshido designated as the Important Cultural Property by National Government. And the roof was built by a very unique architectural style called Hiyoku-Irimoya-zukuri (twin hip-and-gable roof structure), and there are only two buildings existing in Japan, one is this and another one is the main hall of Kibitsu Jinja Shrine in Okayama Prefecture. In spring, many cherry blossoms dramatically bloom around Soshido Hall. The flamed calligraphy hanging on the hall was written by one of the greatest calligraphers in Edo period, Koetsu Honami. And Soshido Hall was described by a haiku poet in Meiji Era, Kyoshi Takahama in his essay 'Nakayamadera'. On the right of the approach road to Soshido Hall, there is a well called 'Hoshi no I' the founder Nichiren had used.
Why don't you visit Hokekyoji Soshido Hall?

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The Hokekyoji Soshido as the Important Cultural Property

Hokekyo-ji Soshido; The Important Cultural Property Designated By The National Government

Date of designation; May 18th of 1985.
Architectural structure; The length of beam 12.74meters, a single storey in Hiyoku-Irimoya-zukuri (twin hip-and-gable roof structure). The width of front kohais (a roof built over the steps leading up to a temple building) is 5.46 meters, and the width of its back is 1.82 meters , with munafuda 11mai (eleven wooden tags commemorating the foundation of the temple).

The name Soshi-do implies that this building dedicates the founder of the Nichren Sect, and the building stores Nichren's statue carved by Nippou (1259-1341). So 'Soshi' means the first man who starts the religious sects or some other groups, including some academic groups.
The Soshi-do was first built Shochu 2nd (1325) of Kamakura Period. At that time, it was called a 5 ken-do (5 ken means the width of the building, a ken is about 1.82 meters in classic Japanese measure, so 5 ken is about 9.10 meters wide) for the founder Nichiren enshrined. Since that, it had got fires several times. The Soshi-do now existing was built in Enpo 6th (1678) of Edo Period.
Besides the hengaku, a kind of tablet hanged up on the center of the Soshi-do' front kouhai was written by Koetsu Honami（1558-1637), one of the most famous and popular calligraphers and artists in Azuchi Momoyama Period or Early Edo Period.
The building is now 7 ken-do (12.74 meters wide), the roof looks two roofs lined beside, it is the feature of it, and called Hiyoku-Irimoya-Tukuri (twin hip-and-gable roof structure). It is very unique and rare structure, there are only two buildings existing now in Japan. One is of course the Soshi-do in Hokekyo-ji, another one is very famous, it is the National Treasure, the Kibitsu-jinja Honden in Okayama prefecture.
The inner space is divided into two, first layer of ge-jin and inner space. And the inner space is also divided into four, the wider space of nai-jin, both side is called waki-jin and back space is called go-jin. There are willow lattice frames on the walls between nai-jin and ge-jin, and there are removable partition called Kekkai on the lower parts of the wall. Besides the kekkai are also used between the nai-jin and the waki-jin, but they are rationally removed when some big religious events are held in. This is very typical structure in the temples belonging to Nichren Sect. The floor of the nai-jin is generally wooden-style, but now straw mats are laid on the floor. The ceiling is called a square frame ceiling, so it looks like a the squares of a "go-board" in a Japanese game called 'go', the edges of each square are black Japanese urushi lacqure coating, and a bellflower crest is painted on each square on the ceiling. In addition the upper part of the nai-jin is solemnly decolated with rich color
The large hall of Nichiren Sect like Soshi-do in Hokekyo-ji is very rare in Kanto Area, it is very important building that the date of construction is known, and also its scale and structure shows the trend of the common people's faith in Edo period.
It took ten years to tear down and to repair Soshi-do、so it was completed in Heisei 9th (1997), the building was restored to its original state.
March 1999
Ichikawashi Board of Education

法華経寺祖師堂参道脇案内板より

Besides, in 'Nakayama Dere' an essay written by Kyoshi Takahama a leading haiku poet, Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple was described, and Kyoshi visited it and sat on a step of Soshido Hall in 1897.

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Hokekyoji Soshido and Cherry Blossoms

There are many cherry trees in front of Hokekyoji Soshido and visitors could enjoy their wonderful experiences while they walk on the approach road to it since they are covered with millions of cherry blossoms in Spring. Hokekyoji Soshico under the blue sky

sakura between the gojunoto and the soshido

full blooming cherry blossoms in Hokekyoji

twin hip-and-gable roof structure and cherry blossoms

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Hoshi no I well in Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple

Hoshi no I well is a well on the right on the approach road to Soshido Hall of Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple. And it has been reserved carefully since the Founder Nichiren had used it.

引用・抜粋および参考
法華経寺祖師堂脇案内板
市川市ホームページ
市川市立図書館ホームページ
正中山法華経寺誌
日蓮宗各本山名所図会
定本高浜虚子全集第８巻写生文集１「中山寺」　毎日新聞社
大辞林
日本世界人名辞典
新制版　日本史辞典
ブリタニカ国際大百科事典
ウィッキペディア

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The Location and Access to Soshido Hall In Nakayama Hokekyoji

Soshido Hall In Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple

The map in Nakayama Hokekyoji

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

The map near Nakayama Hokekyoji and Kaii Higashiyama Memorial Hall

PDF of the map near Hokekyoji and Kaii Higashiyama

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

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

Soshido Hall in Nakayama Hokekyouji Temple has a great accessibility 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 4 minute walk from Keisei-Nakayama Sta, and take 7 minutes walk from Shimousa-Nakayama Sta.
2-10-1 Nakayama, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-pref, Japan

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