Saiji - Saiji

It was one of the two temples built to protect Heian-kyo when the capital was moved to Heian. It was located across Suzaku-oji from To-ji (Kyoogokoku-ji) and was located in Miho, Kujo 1bo, Ukyo (Karahashi Nishidera-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto). To-ji was also called Sadai-ji and Sai-ji was called Udai-ji. In 796 (Enryaku 15), Fujiwara Isen-do was appointed as the chief temple builder of both the East and West temples. In 823 (Kōnin 14), To-ji was entrusted to Kukai and became the central training center for Shingon esoteric Buddhism, while Shubin-sozu entered Sai-ji and developed into an official temple. It flourished as a temple protecting the nation, especially in 860 (Jogan 2), when the national memorial service for Emperor Montoku was held. However, in 990 (Shoreki 1), it was destroyed by fire and fell into ruin. Currently, only the ruins remain. Since 1959 (Showa 34), excavations have been carried out at the site of Saiji Temple over a dozen times, and the remains of many facilities, including the main hall and the south gate, have been confirmed.

Incidentally, Saiji Temple, currently located in Karahashi Hiragaki-cho, is a temple belonging to the Seizan school of the Jodo sect of Buddhism. It was originally located on the site of Saiji Temple and was called Saihoji Temple, but was renamed in 1894 (Meiji 27) and retained the name Saiji Temple.

[Oshika Saneaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安遷都のおり、平安京鎮護のために造営された東西二寺の一つ。朱雀(すざく)大路を挟んで東寺（教王護国寺）と相対し、右京九条一坊三保（京都市南区唐橋(からはし)西寺町）にあった。東寺を左大寺(さだいじ)、西寺を右大寺(うだいじ)とも称した。796年（延暦15）に藤原伊勢人(いせんど)が東西両寺の造寺長官に任命されている。823年（弘仁14）東寺は空海に託され真言(しんごん)密教の中心道場となったのに対し、西寺には守敏僧都(しゅびんそうず)が入り、官寺として発展した。とくに860年（貞観2）に文徳(もんとく)天皇の国忌が行われるなど、鎮護国家の寺として栄えた。しかし990年（正暦1）火災により焼失、荒廃。現在は旧跡を残すのみである。1959年（昭和34）以後、西寺跡は十数回にわたって発掘調査が行われ、金堂、南大門など多数の施設の遺構が確認されている。

　なお、現在唐橋平垣(ひらがき)町にある西寺は浄土宗西山(せいざん)派に属する寺で、もと西寺跡にあって西方寺と称したが、1894年（明治27）に改称して西寺の名を継承した。

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