Tsuikahô 570: On temple donations

Translated by Sachiko Kawai and Matthew Keller

[Kōan 7 (1285), 11th month, 27th day]

Item: Concerning the repair of the various temples in Kamakura and land holding 1 donations {for the temples}

It has been reported that although the five Boards of Co-adjudicators 2 were earlier ordered {by the Board of Councilors} 3 to deliver a decision {on the above matters}, they have not. As for the repairs, the heads {of the Boards of Co-adjudicators} are to investigate, and diligently report the situation. Inform all that when there is only minor damage, it is the responsibility of the {temple} directors to take care of the repairs. As to the matter of land holdings, quickly report the decision. Next, as for the Hokkedō, 4 so that {the head of} the fifth {Board of Co-adjudicators} 5 may attain merit through the repair of the hall, he is to be in charge of its repair. Additionally, the same will be done for the Shin Shakadō. 6 As for {the remainder of} Daijiji, 7 the repairs will be managed by the third Board of Co-adjudicators.

Original Text 原文

一　鎌倉中諸堂修理并寄進所領事　　〈弘安七　十一　廿七〉

　五方引付可申沙汰之由、先日被仰下之処、無沙汰云々、修理事者、頭人加見知、厳

　密可注申、小破所々為別当之沙汰可修理之由、可相触、所領事、急速可申沙汰、次

　法花堂事、為五番引付頭人奉行、修造営之功間、於五番可有沙汰、次新釈迦堂事、

　同前、大慈寺者、可為三番引付、

Kundoku 訓読

一　鎌倉中諸堂修理并びに寄進所領の事　　〈弘安七　十一　廿七〉

　五方引付ごほうひきつけ、申沙汰もうしざたすべきの由、先日、仰せ下さるるの処、無沙汰ぶさた、と云々。修理の事は、頭人とうにん、見知けんちを加え、厳密げんみつに注申ちゅうしんすべし。小破しょうはの所々ところどころ、別当べっとうの沙汰として修理すべきの由、相い触るべし。所領しょりょうの事、急速きっそくに申沙汰すべし。次いで、法花堂の事、五番引付頭人奉行として、造営の功こうを修しゅうするの間、五番に於て、沙汰有るべし。次いで、新の釈迦堂しんしゃかどうの事、同前どうぜんなり。大慈寺だいじじは、三番引付たるべし。


Modern 現代語訳

一　鎌倉中の諸堂の修理および｛寺に｝寄進された所領の事　　〈弘安七　十一　廿七〉

　五方引付に {当事者たちに} 決定したことを言い渡しなさいと、{評定衆（将軍）から} 先日命令をされたのに、まだそれがなされていない、ということである。修理の事は、{それぞれの引付の} 長官が実態を調査して、厳密に報告するようにということと、少し破損している箇所などは、｛寺の｝別当の担当として修理すべきであるということを、{寺に} 広く伝えるように。所領の事については、急速に判決を言い渡すように。次に、{頼朝の} 法花堂の事は、五番引付の長官の担当として、造営の功績を成し遂げたので、五番引付において、命令を伝えるように。また次に、{大慈寺の中の} 新釈迦堂の事についても、同様である。大慈寺{全体の部分} については、三番引付が命令を伝えるように

  1. 寄進所領 kishin shoryō — this refers to the rights for the income from lands which were donated for the purpose of repairing individual temples. The important change here is that the income generated from these land holdings would now be given to the temples. ↩

  1. The hiketsukeshū is a government office which has jurisdiction over lawsuits involving control of land. Established in 1249 with three Boards of Co-adjudicators, in 1252 the number of Boards was increased to five to help take care of lawsuits. ↩

  1. While not explicitly stated in the document, it is the “Board of Councilors” (評定衆 hyōjōshū) which originally ordered the hiketsukeshū to deliberate and act on these matters. ↩

  1. This Hokkedō refers to the temple built next to Minamoto no Yoritomo’s tomb to memorize his death. ↩

  1. Antei Munekage 安達宗景, son of Antei Yasumori 安達泰盛. Funinbu 6, Kantō hyōjōden Gunsho ruijū, 群書類従「関東評定伝」 ↩

  1. This Shakadō (Śākyamuni Hall) was established inside Daijiji in 1226 for the third death anniversary of Hōjō Yoshitoki. “Daijiji 大慈寺” in Nihon rekishi chimei daikei 日本歴史地名大系. ↩

  1. This temple was established by the third shogun Minamoto Sanetomo (源実朝, 1191-1219) to venerate his father Yoritomo 源頼朝. According to the Azuma kagami, work was begun on the temple in 1212. In 1226, Hōjō Tokifusa (北条時房, 1175-1240) erected a three storied pagoda for the sake of his sister Masako (北条政子, 1157-1225), who was also the wife of Yoritomo. From that time onward, the temple seems to have been supported by the Hōjō. The aforementioned Shin Shakadō is within the Daijiji temple grounds, however for reasons unclear its maintenance is under the jurisdiction of the fifth Board of Co-adjudicators instead of the third. Nihon rekishi chimei daikei 日本歴史地名大系. ↩