The Evolution of Fuji
School Temples

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Using Taisekiji as the center from which the Daishonin’s Buddhism would spread for countless generations to come, Nikko Shonin and his disciples expanded propagation activities and established a host of branch temples.

Among the more important of these accomplishments, in 1298 (the sixth year of the Einin Period), Ishikawa Sanesaburo Yoshitada invited Nikko Shonin to establish Omosu Seminary, which later became Kitayama Honmonji Temple. In 1323, Joren-bo Nissen was installed as the chief priest at Honmonji Temple in Sanuki (Kagawa Prefecture), which had been built by Akiyama Yasutada. Again, in 1324 (the first year of the Shochu Period), Nanjo Tokimitsu donated his own estate to Jakunichi-bo Nikke for the establishment of Myorenji Temple.

In 1335, approximately two years after Nikko Shonin’s passing, Satsuma Ajari Nichiei converted Jozenji Temple in Hyuga (now the city of Hyuga in Miyazaki Prefecture) to the Fuji School. The same year, after leaving Taisekiji because of the Higashi-no-bo land dispute, Nichigo established Hota Myohonji, while his disciples founded Kuonji in the Koizumi area of Fujinomiya, where Nichigo had briefly sojourned.

Meanwhile, in Kyoto, a priest named Nichizon founded Jogyo-in, the forerunner of Yohoji Temple. After leaving Omosu Seminary due to the quarrel over the propriety of reciting the Hoben chapter, Nichidai established Nishiyama Honmonji in 1343 (the fourth year of the Kokoku Period).

In addition to the above, Jogyoji and Honganji Temples were established in Oshu Province (Miyagi Prefecture) in 1283 (the sixth year of the Koan Period), and Myokyoji Temple was founded in 1287 (the tenth year of the Koan Period). In 1303 (the first year of the Kagen Period) Jitsujoji Temple was built in Etsu and Manganji Temple was erected in Iwashiro. (Both of these temples are in what is now Fukushima Prefecture.) The same year, Fukujoji Temple was founded in Shimofusa Province (Ibaragi Prefecture) and Myohonji Temple was established in Musashi Province (Saitama Prefecture). In 1304 (the second year of the Kagen Period), Ganjoji Temple was founded in Iwashiro. In 1305 (the third year of the Kagen Period), Shingyoji Temple opened in Shimotsuke (Tochigi Prefecture) and Butsuganji Temple was established in Iwashiro. In 1312 (the first year of the Showa Period), Myoenji Temple was erected in Edo (Tokyo) and in 1332 (the second year of the Genko Period/first year of the Shokyo Period), another Myoenji Temple was constructed in Oshu. In 1360 (the fifteenth year of the Shohei Period), Rengyoji Temple was established in Shimono (Tochigi Prefecture), and in 1394 (the first year of the Oei Period), Renjoji Temple was founded in Suruga Province (Shizuoka Prefecture). In 1398 (the fifth year of the Oei Period), Myohoji Temple was established in Iwaki (Fukushima Prefecture). Renjoji Temple was also founded in Iwaki in 1402 (the ninth year of the Oei Period). In this way, the successive High Priests of Taisekiji and their disciples made great efforts to establish a considerable number of branch temples throughout Japan.

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