About the temple

Our temple was founded in February 1275, by the venerable Hizen Kou, Echou Ajari Nichiden Saint (Chuuro Sou Hizen Kou Echou Ajari Nichiden Shounin).
Originally a Shingon sect Buddhist known as Zenchi Hoin, he established the temple. Today, a 30-minute drive from Minobu Mountain towards Kofu leads to the town of Fujikawa, where Mount Komuro is located.Approximately 750 years ago, there was a Shingon Buddhist temple on Mount Komuro, a significant ancient temple that governed the Shingon temples in the current Kanto region.
Zenchi Hoin, who practiced mantra and asceticism at this temple, eventually became its chief priest.

Nichiren Daishonin entered Mt. Minobu on May 1274, and for a while traveled around Koshu preaching the Lotus Sutra and the teachings of Odaimoku.At that time, Zenchi Hoin heard rumors about the Daishonin and challenged him to a debate and a contest of spiritual power.

According to legend, Zenchi Hoin chanted mantras and levitated a large rock into the air. However, when Saint Nichiren chanted the Lotus Sutra and the Daimoku, he rendered the rock immovable.
Zenchi Hoin was swiftly defeated. Following the confrontation, Zenchi Hoin initially surrendered to the great saint but was consumed by anger. He pursued Saint Nichiren and, in a subsequent attempt, tried to poison him.

Currently, about a 10-minute drive from Mount Minobu, there lies Jotaku-ji Temple, renowned for its 'upside-down Ginkgo tree'. At that time, this temple was affiliated with the Shingon sect.
Zenchi Hoin consulted with Hoki Acharya, the chief priest of the temple, and invited Daishonin to take a break there on his way home. During this visit, he gave Daishonin poisoned botamochi (rice cakes).

As Saint Nichiren was about to eat the botamochi, a white dog appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Thinking the dog might be hungry, he offered it a piece of the rice cake. After eating it, the dog vomited blood and died on the spot.
Witnessing this, Zenchi Hoin recognized the miraculous divine protection surrounding the great saint. He sincerely apologized and asked to become his disciple.

Afterwards, Saint Nichiren composed a waka poem, which says, "Rain does not fall askew on its own; it is the wind that causes it to strike the windows in the dead of night." He explained that, much like how the wind blows the rain off course to hit the windows, Zenchi Hoin, who essentially had a good heart, was simply led astray by incorrect teachings.

Afterwards, Saint Nichiden dedicated himself to serving and repenting alongside the great saint. He established his hermitage, naming it 'Yougyoin Shimano-bo'.
The current Shimano-bo is located in the Higashitani area, but at that time, it was situated above what is now a municipal parking lot. Nichiden himself called the area Daigo, which led to its current name, Daigo Valley.
After three years of devoted service at Shimano-bo, Nichiden returned to Mount Komuro, where he renamed the temple 'Myohoji' and transformed it into a Nichiren sect temple.

Shimano-bo was established under the guidance of its second head, Jitsu-Kyo Ajari Niiin, who also served as the sixth chief priest of Kuonji Temple at Mount Minobu. Its third leader was Asagakuin Nigi, believed to be Nichiden's younger brother in his secular life.
In XNUMX, during the Bunsei era, Shimano-bo exchanged its location with the Shueibou temple, moving from Daigo Valley to its current site. After several mergers over time, it has reached its present state.
If you include the priests of the merged temples, there are easily over 6 generations of chief priests. The current chief priest of Shimabo, Jungyo Sato, is the 750rd owner of Shimabo after settling in this area. As of Reiwa XNUMX, we have XNUMX years of history.