Ryuko Ji

Jakkozan Ryuko-ji

Founded in 1337 by Priest Nippo This site is recognized as an execution ground for criminals during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), and its monuments stand at the left-hand side of the Temples outer gate. Nichiren Shonin stayed in Kamakura for nearly 20 years engaged in missionary work emphasizing the importance of the Lotus Sutra. His devotion to the Lotus Sutra was so intense that he consistently refuted other orders’ doctrines showing them to be heretical or divergent from the correct teachings of Buddhism. His criticism provoked hostility toward him not only from other orders but also from the Shogunate authorities. As a result, he faced serious persecutions four times during his stay in Kamakura, and in the last instance in 1271, was sentenced to death by beheading when he accused the Shogunate of employing incorrect doctrines. On September 12, 1271, Nichiren Shonin was brought to the execution ground; everyone knew he would die within hours. However, at the moment an executioner was about to strike his neck with a sword, asserts the legend, a tremendous clap of thunder roared throughout the sky accompanied by a wild streak of lightning. Aghast and petrified, the executioner was unable to behead Nichiren Shonin as he thought a miracle had been wrought. (Nichiren Shonin had previously performed various miracles and was revered as a miracle worker.) Messengers were sent to the Shogunate office to tell them what happened. When they came up to a stream called the Yukiai {yoo-key-eye} River, roughly 2,000-metera east of the Temple, they met with messengers who had been dispatched by Tokimune Hojo (1251-1284), the 8th Regent. The Regent's messengers were on the way to tell them not to execute Nichiren Shonin. Since the two groups met here by accident, the river was thus named the "Yukiai-gawa," or the River of Meeting. The execution was immediately suspended and Nichiren Shonin was exiled instead to Sado Island off the coast of Niigata Prefecture. (Some say that the Regent gave a special pardon to Nichiren Shonin as the Regent's wife turned out to be pregnant) Sixty-six years later on this historic spot, a priest named Nippo established a hermitage in dedication of Nichiren Shonin, where he enshrined a statue of Nichiren Shonin which he had carved. From then on, the temple gained momentum with the support of the devout and expanded its structures. The Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 destroyed nearly all of the temple structures except for the main hall and the five-story pagoda. All others were rebuilt afterward. The Temple ranks among the 44 head temples of Nichiren order .

Main Hondo of Ryuko Ji. The six senior disciples of Nichiren Shonin are enshrined to either side of the main altar. (below)

At the side of the hondo a trail makes its way up to a shrine for Shichimen Do, the stupa containing the Buddha's relics and a five storied pagoda.

A few of the pilgrims ventured up the hill in the rain. Pam standing at the top of the staircase in front of the Shichimen Do.

The front of the Hondo. The rain is increasing as the morning goes by. The tropical storm will be hitting Kamakura that afternoon. The winds would start picking up after we left Ryuko Ji.

Daisho In (reception hall)

Back to the gate and out into the city. We would hop onto the tram back toward Kamakura to visit more Temples.