Raw data
Enzôji was founded along the Tadami River in 807 by the Hossô monk Tokuitsu, best known for his doctrinal dispute with Saichô, founder of the Tendai sect. The main object of worship is an image of the bodhisattva Kokûzô (Akasagarbha), which is said to have been carved by Kûkai, founder of the Shingon sect.
Today, the temple is notorious for its “naked festival” (Hadaka-mairi) in January.
- Uryû (2003: 216)
The main object of worship is Sakyamuni Buddha, and the Kokûzô image is known as Yanaizu Kokûzô. The actual date of founding is unknown, but temple legends claim that in 807 Tokuitsu built a hall for the Kokûzô that Kûkai had carved. Enzôji became a Rinzai Zen temple between 1384 and 1387.
- Enzôji http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/円蔵寺
In the Edo period, it had 2000 koku of landed estates.
-Tamamuro (1992: 62)
“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
Input by: Lizbeth H. Piel, Aug 30, 2010
Final data (and their sources)
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.
General location of the Enzoji monastery, JP.
Lat 37.533042 Long 139.724735
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2010.
Google Map link:
Final data - explanatory notes
1. Monastery's name
- Enzôji 円蔵寺. Alternative English spelling: Enzô-ji, Enzoji
2. Monastery's modern country & province
- Japan: Fukushima Prefecture
3. Monastery's alternative/historical names
- Reigenzan – Uryû (2003: 216)
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Approx., Lat 37.533042 Long 139.724735 - based on the visual identification of the monastery in maps, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 31 Aug 2010.
5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries
6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village
- Kawanuma-gun, Yanaitzu-chô, Daiji Yanaitsu
- Yanaizu - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/JA/08/Yanaizu.html
7. The settlement's alternative/historical names
- “Fukushima became a Province of Mutsu after the Taika Reforms were established in 646 … . This region of Japan is also known as Michinoku and Ōshū” - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Prefecture
8. The settlement's coordinates
- Exactly, Lat 37.5167 Long 139.7167 - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/JA/08/Yanaizu.html
9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition
- Mahayana
10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition
- Hossô, later Rinzai Zen - Uryû (2003:216)
11. Date-early
- 807 - Uryû (2003: 216)
12. Date-intermediate
- 1384–1387 - http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/円蔵寺
13. Date-late
[missing data]
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
[missing data]
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
- Documents, artifacts
16. Additional notes
[missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)
17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by
[missing data]
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