| Tō-ji 東寺 | |
|---|---|
 View of the Tō-ji complex | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Tōji-Shingon |
| Deity | Yakushi Nyorai (Bhaiṣajyaguru) |
| Location | |
| Location | 1 Kujōchō,Minami-ku,Kyoto,Kyoto Prefecture |
| Country | Japan |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Emperor Kanmu |
| Date established | 796 |
| Completed | 1644 (Reconstruction) |
| Website | |
| http://www.toji.or.jp/ | |
Tō-ji Temple (東寺,Tō-ji, "East Temple"), also known asKyō-ō-gokoku-ji (教王護国寺,The Temple for the Defense of the Nation by Means of the King of Doctrines) is aShingonBuddhist temple in theMinami-ku ward ofKyoto,Japan.
Founded in 796, it was one of the only three Buddhist temples allowed in the city at the time it became the capital of Japan. As such it has a long history, housing treasures and documents from the earlyHeian period and theTang dynasty, and with buildings in its complex covering theKamakura,Muromachi,Momoyama, andEdo periods. Five of these buildings have been designatedNational Treasures in two different categories: the Lotus Flower Gate (rengemon), the Miei Hall (mieidō), the Golden Hall (kondō) and the five-storied Pagoda (gojūnotō) (temple buildings) and the Kanchiin Guest Hall (kanchiin kyakuden) (residences).
Tō-ji was designated aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site in 1994, as part of theHistoric Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
Tō-ji was founded in the earlyHeian period.[1] The temple dates from 796, two years after the capital moved toHeian-kyō. Together with its partner Sai-ji, and the templeShingon-in (located in theHeian Palace), it was one of only three Buddhist temples allowed in the capital at the time and is the only of the three to survive to the present.
It once had a partner,Sai-ji (West Temple) and, together, they stood alongside theRashomon, the gate to the Heian capital. It was formerly known asKyō-ō-gokoku-ji (教王護国寺,The Temple for the Defense of the Nation by Means of the King of Doctrines)[2] which indicates that it previously functioned as a temple providing protection for the nation. Tō-ji is located inMinami-ku near the intersection ofŌmiya Street and Kujō Street, southwest ofKyōto Station.
Tō-ji is often associated with Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai). Though Tō-ji began to decline at the end of the Heian period, it came back into the spotlight with the rise of Daishi Shinko (worshipping of Kōbō Daishi) in the Kamakura period. The well-known Buddhist priest was put in charge of Tō-ji in 823 by order ofEmperor Saga. The temple's principal image is ofYakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha. Many religious services for Daishi are held in Miei-dō (御影堂) (or Daishi-dō (大師堂), in another name), the residence of Kōbō Daishi.[3] In 1586, the temple was seriously damaged by anearthquake.[4]
The five-storied Pagoda (五重塔,gojūnotō) of Tō-ji dates from 1643 (Edo period), when it was rebuilt by order of the thirdTokugawa Shōgun,Iemitsu. The original pagoda was built in the 9th century, but it was destroyed and rebuilt four times before reaching its current state. It was designated aNational Treasure in 1952.[5]
The pagoda stands 54.8 meters (180 feet) high, and is the tallestwooden tower in Japan. Entrance into the pagoda itself is permitted only on special occasions, but it is usually open and the interior can be seen from the outside. It houses relics, sculptures, and paintings. At ground level, there are statues of four Buddhas facing different directions.[6]
TheKondo or Golden Hall is the main hall of the temple and contains a statue of Yakushi from 1603.
The Miedo is dedicated to Kobo Daishi, also called Kukai, the temple's founder. It stands on the location of his original residence. The hall is opened on the 21st of each month when a memorial service is held for Kukai.
The grounds feature a garden and pond, in which turtles and koi swim. The grounds also house an academically rigorous private school, Rakunan, from which many students are sent to elite universities.
Tō-ji was rebuilt in the earlyEdo Period, verging on theKamakura Period.[7] During this rebuild, Tō-ji was dedicated to be a ShingonBuddhist temple (Shingon, a form ofVajrayana Buddhism, was brought toJapan byKūkai, a priest in 806).[8] These temples were typically built in the mountains and utilized more natural and demographic design elements, dictating the resulting architectural layout. In the Kamakura period, Japanese architects began to utilize technology to resist damage from earthquakes, rainfall, sun, and heat damage.[7] These fortifications were integrated into the remodeling of Tō-ji. This style of building defending against the natural elements evolved into theZenshūyō style, seen later on in the Kamakura period.[7] This style utilizes the "hidden roof" innovation.[9] Zenshūyō style temples, such as Tō-ji, are characterized by linear spacing outlines of theGaran, hinging panel doors, cusped windows calledKatōmado, and decorative pent roofs calledMokoshi.[7] Although containing many of the elements of Zenshūyō style architecture, the Tō-ji temple uses the natural land around it to dictate the layout of the garan, which is a technique used in theHeian Period and Edo Period ofJapanese Architecture. This correlates with the Shingon attribution byEmperor Saga in 823. The decorative mokoshi and outfitting of modern structural technology (of the time), were most likely integrated during the remodeling of the tower in the Kamakura Period.
Recognizing the historical and spiritual significance of Tō-ji,UNESCO designated it, along with several other treasures inKyoto Prefecture, as part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto"World Heritage Site.
On the 21st of each month, a famousflea market is held on the grounds of Tō-ji. This market is popularly called Kōbō-san, in honor of Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai), who died on the 21 of the third Month of 835 AD (22 April in the Western Calendar). The flea market features a variety of antiques, art, clothes, pottery, some food, and typical second-hand flea market goods. By far the largest market is held on December 21, as it is the last of the year.[10]
A similar market is held on the 25th of every month atKitano Tenmangū, also called Tenjin.[11] A Kyoto proverb proclaims, "Fair weather at Tō-ji market means rainy weather at Tenjin market", calling to mind Kyoto's fickle weather.
A smaller, less-crowded, antique-oriented market is held at the Tō-ji grounds on the first Sunday of each month.[dubious –discuss][citation needed]
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TheRashomon was formerly situated to the west of Tō-ji, though now only a marker remains, reachable a short walk west along Kujō street. A little further west wasSai-ji (West Temple), though now only a small park remains.
Tō-ji and Sai-ji were built at the southern edge of the capital and were the only Buddhist temples officially allowed in Heian-kyō at the time. Sai-ji disappeared in the 16th century. The reason was bad irrigation ofUkyō-ku and the lack of funds to maintain it.
A legend says that at the time of a great drought, Kūkai, the priest at Tō-ji, and Shubin, his colleague at Sai-ji, were both praying for rainfall. Kūkai succeeded where Shubin had failed, and Shubin, envious, shot an arrow at Kūkai. At that time a Jizō[clarification needed] appeared and took the arrow instead of Kūkai, saving his life. The Jizō is near the ruins ofRashōmon. It has been chipped where the arrow is thought to have hit.
In 1995, the temple was the stage of theYanni World Tour,
On July 7, 2007, one of theLive Earth concerts (held to raise awareness of the Earth's climate) was staged at Tō-ji; artists who played includedBonnie Pink,Michael Nyman,Rip Slyme,UA and theYellow Magic Orchestra.
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