Shōmyōji Shōgyō and Kanazawa Bunko Monjo

Basic Information

• Catalog ID: 201
• Item ID: 00011722
• Category: Calligraphy and Books
• Country: Japan
• Period: Heian Period to Meiji Period
• Date designated: August 17, 2016
• Prefecture: Kanagawa
• Location: 142 Kanazawa-machi, Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
• Owner: Shōmyōji Temple (Religious Corporation)

Source: Excerpted from the National Designated Cultural Properties Database (https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/index)

Overview

The Shōmyōji Shōgyō and Kanazawa Bunko Monjo are vast collections of historical documents housed at Shōmyōji Temple in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, and currently preserved by the Kanagawa Prefectural Kanazawa Library. The collection centers on materials gathered and created by the powerful warrior clan, the Hōjō clan of Kanazawa, during the Kamakura Period (1185–1333). It integrates “Sacred Teachings” (shōgyō), which relate to Buddhist rituals and doctrines, with “Ancient Documents” (kofunsho) that convey the social realities of the time. The sheer volume—20,841 items in total (16,692 shōgyō and 4,149 documents)—is considered a treasure trove of knowledge from medieval Japan.

Historical Background

The Kanazawa Library originated as a private archive established by Hōjō Sanetoki (Kanazawa Sanetoki), who held important positions in the Kamakura Shogunate. Around 1275 (the first year of Kenji era), he set up the library within his own residence near Six-Ura Manor Kanazawa. Sanetoki and his descendants diligently collected academic texts, Chinese/Japanese classics (Kan-kan), and Buddhist scriptures, establishing one of Japan’s earliest samurai libraries. Shōmyōji Temple was the temple dedicated to the Hōjō clan. After the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate in 1333, these materials were protected and passed down by successive head priests and monks. The collection thus represents a valuable cultural heritage spanning long historical changes from the late Heian Period through the Meiji Period.

Features and Significance

The greatest appeal of this cultural property is its ability to convey the intellectual life and social reality of medieval Japan in such an organized manner today.

• Immense Volume: With over 20,000 items combined, it boasts one of the largest collections of materials preserved together at a single temple or library in Japan.
• Diverse Content: The documents cover every field of contemporary life, from esoteric Buddhist ritual teachings to politics, economics, diplomacy, and education. This makes it an indispensable source for studying medieval Japanese history.
• Value of “Backside Documents” (Shise Bunsho): A unique feature is that the back side of many shōgyō (the paper backing) contains letters, memos, and administrative records from the period. This reuse of material unintentionally preserved a vivid glimpse into the daily lives, thoughts, and social systems of people long ago.
• A Repository of Knowledge: During the tumultuous Kamakura Period, this collection serves as a “time capsule” of knowledge. It shows exactly what information was gathered—from across Japan or even from continental Asia—and how it was managed and studied.