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Address: 1413 Hiroba, Kamogawa, Chiba
Direction: JR Sotobo-line, Awa-Kamogawa Station, 20 minutes
walking or 5 minutes by taxi.
This is the site of the Komatsubara Persecution, which is one of
the four major persecutions which Nichiren underwent. It was the
most severe of the persecutions because two of his companions were
killed and others in the party that day were injured. The present
day temple property is so peaceful, making it seem to not be a place
where such a persecution could have occured.
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Click small photo to enlarge.
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The Temple's beginning
On November 11, 1264 while Nichiren Shonin was staying in the Boso
area of Chiba, one of his followers, Yoshitaka Kudo who was a lord
of Amatsu, invited him to visit. When Nichiren and ten of his followers
left Rengeji temple of Hanabusa and were walking on a street of
Komatsudara. It was at this location that they were attacked by
Kagenobu Tojo and his men. Kagenobu was a strong Nembutsu believer
who disliked Nichiren's criticism of his faith. Nichiren Shonin
tried to protect himself from Kagenobu's sword with his prayer beads,
but suffered a wound, which was about three inches in size. Nichiren
Shonin's disciples, Kyoninbo and the Lord Yoshitaka Kudo, who had
come when he heard of the attack, were killed and two others were
seriously injured.
Later one of Yoshitaka Kudo's sons, Nichiryu,
became Nichiren Shonin's disciple. In order to assure prayers for
the late Kyoninbo and Yoshitaka Kudo, Nichiryu founded Kyoninji
Temple on March 5, 1281.
The Temple today
A 800 year old cedar tree stands in the temple's yard. The temple
has a Soshi-do (founder's hall) which was built in the middle of
Edo period, a Hondo (grand hall), a temple office, and a gate. The
temple also cares for such sacred treasures as Nichiren Shonin's
writing, "Tokidono Gosho", the prayer beads which protected
Nichiren from the blow of the sword, the blooded robe of Kyoninbo,
and pictorial history books of Nichiren Shonin.
The temple commemorates annual events such as
Kaishu-e (Dedication day) on April 28, Komatsubara Persecution Day
on November 11, and Oeshiki (Nichiren Shonin's memorial day) on
October 13.
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