Enichiji monastery, (in) Bandai, Fukushima Prefecture, JP

Raw data

Enichiji was a large monastery of the Heian period (794–1185) at the foot of Mt. Bandai, directly north of what is now Bandai Town, which is northwest of Lake Inawashiro in the center of modern Fukushima Prefecture.

The Hossô monk Tokuitsu founded Enichiji, which later became a “major monastery.” He chose the name out of respect for Fa-hsiang patriarch Hui-chao (650-714)’s Hui jih lun. Tokuitsu was often called “the bodhisattva” by local people for his humble lifestyle. He got into a famous literary dispute with Tendai leader Saichô over doctrinal matters (93).
- Groner (2000: 91-3)

“On a south-north axis (bottom to top): the Niomon (Outer Gate); Chuumon (Central Gate); Kondou (Golden Hall), Koudou (Lecture Hall), and Ryoukaidou (Hall of Two Worlds). The five- tiered pagoda lies east of the axis. The Golden Hall dimensions are based on earlier archaeological findings that have been superseded by recent work.”
-http://www.cs.ucla.edu/~jmg/ah/eniheian.html

The main gate containing a pair of guardian kings (wooden sculptures), and two small halls were built from the middle of the Tokugawa period onwards.
- http://www.d1.dion.ne.jp/~xxnakano/enitiji.htm

The main hall has not survived, but plans are underway to rebuild it. - http://www1.town.bandai.fukushima.jp/kanko/enichiji/restoration_01.htm#01

The main object of worship was Dainichi nyôrai (Vairocana). In the Edo period (1600–1868), the monastery had about 60 sub temples and 25 officially certified koku of landed estates.

-Tamamuro (1992: 50)

“The area of what is now called Fukushima Prefecture came under the influence of the Yamato Court ahead of the rest of Michinoku; Buddhism is said to have been transmitted to the area in the 7th century. 
During the golden age of Buddhist culture, from the 9th to l2th centuries, the Fukushima area flourished as one of the centers of Buddhist culture in northeastern Japan. Many important temples, such as E'nichi-ji Temple in Aizu and Shiramizu Amidado Pavilion in Iwaki, date from this era.”

- “History and Tradition” http://www.pref.fukushima.jp/list_e/hstrd_le.html

Inawashiro, Japan Page
World:Japan:Fukushima-ken
Lat 37.5667 Long 140.1167
http://www.fallingrain.com/world/JA/08/Inawashiro.html

Input by: Lizbeth H. Piel, Jul 16, 2010

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 28 Sep 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Enichi-ji monastery, JP.

General location of the Enichi-ji monastery, JP.
Lat 37.5675 Long 139.9863
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2010.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.5675+139.9863+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Enichiji%20monastery,%20JP)&ll=37.5675,139.9863&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Enichiji 慧日寺. Alternative English spelling: Enichi-ji, E'nichiji

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • Japan: Fukushima Prefecture

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names


4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx., Lat 37.5675 Long 139.9863 - based on visual identification of the ruins in maps.google.com - tmciolek, 19 Jul 2010.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries


6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village

  • Yama-gun (Yama District), Bandai-machi (Bandai town), Bandai-teranishi, which is situated v. close to

Inawashiro - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/JA/08/Inawashiro.html


7. The settlement's alternative/historical names


8. The settlement's coordinates


9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Mahayana

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • Hossô

11. Date-early

  • MBM chrono-tag 0800-32c - tmciolek 08 Feb 2013
  • 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32c 1033-66c 1067-99c 1100-32c 1133-66c 1167-99c 1200=> dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

  • MBM chrono-tag 1200=> - tmciolek 08 Feb 2013

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries


15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Architectural, archeological, documents

16. Additional notes


17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

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