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Address
3-13-37 Katase
Fujisawa, Kanagawa
Direction
1) JR Tokaido-Line, to Ofuna Station, transfer to Shonan Monorail
to Shonan-Enoshima Station. One minute walking.
2) JR Toakido-Line, to Fujisawa Station, or Yokosuka-Line to Kamakura
Station, transfer to Enoden to Enoshima Station. One minutewalking.
3) Odakyu-Line to Katase-Enoshima Station.
Tatsunokuchi is located on the outskirts of Kamakura and is part
of scenic area with a beautiful view of Enoshima Island. But it
used to be a place where executions were performed during the Kamakura
period.
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Click small photo to enlarge.
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The Temple's beginning (Engi)
June, 1271, Kamakura was suffering from a great drought. Nichiren
Shonin prayed for rain as did the priest Ryokan-bo Ninsho of the
Gokurakuji Temple. Although Nichiren's prayer brought rain and Ryokan's
did not, Nichiren was summoned by the court on September 10. Nichiren
Shonin submitted his writing, the "Rissho Ankoku-ron"
to the government for a second time on September 12. In the evening
on that day, he was arrested by Hei-no Yoritsuna who had attacked
Nichiren's hut at Matsubagayatsu in August of 1260. At the court,
Nichiren Shonin remonstrated the government, "I, Nichiren,
am like a pillar of Japan. Losing me is the same as a pillar of
Japan toppling down. I predict that Japan will experience domestic
rebellion and foreign invasion in 100 days." As a result, the
government determined to exile Nichiren Shonin to Sado Island and
sent him to Honma's residence in Echi, Kanagawa. However, Yoritsuna
planned secretly to execute Nichiren Shonin, so he was taken to
the execution grounds at Tatsunokuchi on the night of September
12.
At the moment when Nichiren Shonin was to be beheaded, an object
shining like the moon at the edge of Enoshima Island flew across
the sky like a ball of lightning. The executioner and guards were
frightened by the sight and Nichiren Shonin thus escaped execution.
September, 1337, Nippo enshrined the founder Nichiren Shonin's
statue and founded the temple. In 1601, a great hall was built.
The temple's present condition
The temple cares for the site of the execution grounds of Tatsunokuchi.
The temple also holds the Diahondo (great hall), Shoin (temple office),
gate donated by the Konoikes in Osaka in 1858, and a five story
pagoda built in 1910. Nichiren Shonin's statue enshrined in the
Daihondo is known as one of three statues curved out of one tree.
Other two statues are enshrined at Honmonji in Ikegami and Myohonji
in Hikigayatsu.
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