Myojoji Temple

Myojoji is the head temple of the Nichiren Buddhist school in the Hokuriku region, set on broad grounds anchored by a five-storied pagoda completed in 1618. Most of the buildings were constructed in the 1600s under the patronage of the Maeda clan, rulers of the Kaga domain, and because the temple has avoided major fires, they remain essentially unchanged. The oldest structure, the priest's living quarters from 1593, was commissioned by Toshiie Maeda himself. The temple was originally founded in 1294 by Nichizo, a disciple of Nichiren, whose school taught that all people can attain enlightenment in this lifetime.