Shitenno-ji Engi

The Shitenno-ji Engi records the founding of Shitenno-ji, Japan's earliest state-sponsored temple, in 593 by Prince Shotoku (Umayado-no-Oji). During the conflict between Mononobe no Moriya and Soga no Umako over the acceptance of Buddhism, the young prince is said to have carved figures of the Four Heavenly Kings (Shitenno) from a nurude tree and vowed, 'If we win, I will build a temple for the Four Kings.' After the Soga victory and the death of Moriya, he fulfilled the vow by building Shitenno-ji at Naniwa in Settsu. From its founding the temple combined the protection of the state with social welfare through the four institutions (shikain): the Kyoden-in (training), Seyaku-in (dispensary), Ryobyo-in (hospital) and Hiden-in (almshouse). Primary sources include the Nihon Shoki (720 CE) Suiko 1 entry, the Gangoji Garan Engi (747), the Shitenno-ji Goshuin Engi (mid-Heian) and the Shitenno-ji Engi, with later transmissions in the Shotoku Taishi Denryaku. The Shoryoe Bugaku Dai-hoyo on 22 April is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.