Shugen Ji

SHIJOZAN SHUGENJI

The temple grounds were once the site of the residence of Shijo Kingo Yorimoto who, as the following story illustrates, was a fervent and self-sacrificing disciple of Nichiren Shonin. In September of 1271, Nichiren was arrested at his hermitage and taken to the execution grounds at Yuigahama Beach by the followers of Hojo Tokimune. Nichiren had been actively challenging other Buddhist orders, asserting that social disorder, plagues, and famines were the results of the erroneous teachings of the other orders and that only the Lotus Sutra could bring salvation. The Hojo government, no longer able to overlook such action, decided to execute him. Shijo Kingo, upon hearing of Nichiren' s imminent execution, rushed to the execution grounds in Yuigahama together with his brother and begged the executioner to execute him in place of Nichiren. His petition was rejected, however and he was sentenced to a term in prison. Moreover, his estate was confiscated by his master, Ema Mitsutoki. Yet despite such ordeals, Yorimoto never Lost his faith in Nichiren. In the Edo period (1603-1867), a nun by the name of Myokei Ni built a temple called Shugen' an on this site in connection with Nichiren. In 1923, Nichiji, a priest from the nearby Kosokuji Temple built the Main Hall which became formally independent as Shugenji Temple after WWII. Within the black-gated grounds stands a tall stone monument bearing the inscription and residence marks which identifies the site as the former residence of Shijo Kingo. The inscription is the handwriting of Togo Heihachiro (1847-1934), a Fleet Admiral of the Japanese Imperial Navy, who as Commander-in-Chief , led the combined fleet to victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. Togo was also an ardent follower of the Nichiren order. The Main Hall houses images of Nichiren and Shijo Kingo and his wife.