Narita-san Shinsho-ji

• Other Names: 金剛王院 (Kongou ou in)
• Japanese: 成田山新勝寺 (Narita-san Shinshou-ji)

Narita-san Shinshô-ji is a Buddhist temple in Narita, Chiba prefecture. The patron temple of the Ichikawa family of kabuki actors, it is chiefly dedicated to the deity Fudô Myôô, and is famous for its ogoma fire rituals.

The head temple of the Chisan branch of Shingon Buddhism, its chief object of worship, a grand statue of Fudô Myôô, is said to have been dedicated by Kûkai himself, at the request of Emperor Saga. The sculpture was originally enshrined at Jingo-ji on Mt. Takao, but, during the rebellion of Taira no Masakado in 939, at the request of Emperor Suzaku, the monk Kanchô fled with it to the Kantô, and at Narita in Shimousa province, stopped and performed an o-goma fire ritual for 21 days. At the end of the 21 days, the rebellion was ended, and Kanchô established a new temple on the spot, dubbing it Narita-san Shinshô-ji (lit. "new victory temple").

Grounds

The temple's main gate, most recently rebuilt in 2008, is about 15 meters tall, and features wooden carvings of the twelve signs of the zodiac on its kaerumata (decorative roof beams). The gate also serves as a storehouse for eight Buddha statues.

References

• Pamphlets available on-site.
• Plaques on-site.