Seiryoji Temple

This is a Jodo sect temple located in Fujinoki-cho, Saga Shakado, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City. It is called Mount Godai and is commonly known as Saga no Shakado. The principal image is Shaka Nyorai (Shaka Buddha). It was originally a Shakado built in a corner of the grounds of Seikaji Temple. Seikaji Temple was founded as an Amida Hall built in Seikakan, a mountain villa of the 12th son of Emperor Saga, Left Minister Minamoto no Toru (822-895). Toru was an ardent believer in Amida and wished to build an Amida statue, but died before he could accomplish this. His surviving family members continued his wish, completing the Amida Triad, and in 896 (Kanpei 8), on the first anniversary of his death, they built and enshrined the statue in the Amida Hall, held a memorial service, and Seikaji Temple was born. Meanwhile, Chosen went to China in 983 (Eikan 1) on a pilgrimage to Mount Wutai, and returned to Japan in 986 (Kanwa 2) with a copy of the sandalwood Shaka statue made by King Uteno, statues of the Sixteen Arhats, and a Song edition of the Tripitaka. The following year, he applied to build Seiryoji Temple on Mount Wutai at Mount Atago, with the Shaka statue as the principal image, and in 990 (Shoreki 1) he applied to have an ordination platform built alongside it. However, due to opposition from Mount Hiei, permission was denied, and he was appointed head priest of Todaiji Temple and left Kyoto, dying in 1016 (Chowa 5) without having achieved his goal. His disciple Morisan built Seiryoji Temple within Seikaji Temple at the foot of Mount Atago, fulfilling his master's last wishes. The current Shakado Hall was completed in 1703 (Genroku 16). It originally belonged to the Daikakuji school of the Shingon sect, but during the Muromachi period it became a major training center for Yuzu Nembutsu Buddhists, and is thought to have solidified into the Jodo sect around that time. Today, the only thing that remains of Seikaji Temple's name is the Amida Hall on its grounds.

The wooden standing statue of Shaka Nyorai (national treasure) of Sozen Shorai is said to be the "living Buddha" and there are dozens of copies all over the country, which shows the magnitude of the faith. In addition, there are many other important national cultural properties such as the silk painted statues of the Sixteen Arhats (national treasure), the wooden statues of the Ten Great Disciples, the paper painted Yuzu Nembutsu Engi, and the paper painted Shakado Engi. The Dai Nembutsu Kyogen (Saturday and Sunday in mid-April) and the Torch Ceremony (March 15th) are famous events.

[Koji Shimizu]

“Seiryoji Temple” by Gozo Sasaki (1965, Chuokoron Bijutsu Publishing)”

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

京都市右京区嵯峨釈迦堂(さがしゃかどう)藤ノ木町にある浄土宗の寺。五台山と号する。通称を嵯峨の釈迦堂という。本尊は釈迦如来(にょらい)。もとは棲霞(せいか)寺境内の一隅に建てられた釈迦堂であった。棲霞寺は嵯峨天皇の第12皇子、左大臣源融(とおる)（822―895）の山荘、棲霞館に建てられた阿弥陀(あみだ)堂を創始とする。融は熱心な阿弥陀信仰者で、阿弥陀像の造立を発願したが果たしえずに没したため、遺族が志を継ぎ、阿弥陀三尊像を完成し、融の一周忌、896年（寛平8）に阿弥陀堂を建立して安置し、法会を行い、棲霞寺が誕生した。一方、奝然(ちょうねん)は983年（永観1）五台山巡礼のため中国に渡り、986年（寛和2）優填王(うてんおう)所造栴檀釈迦像(せんだんしゃかぞう)の模刻、十六羅漢(らかん)像、宋(そう)版大蔵経を持って帰朝した。翌年将来した釈迦像を本尊として、愛宕(あたご)山に五台山清凉寺の建立を出願、990年（正暦1）に戒壇の併設を出願した。しかし叡山(えいざん)の反対により許可にならず、東大寺別当に任じられて京都を離れ、1016年（長和5）志を果たさず没した。弟子盛算は愛宕山麓(さんろく)の棲霞寺内に清凉寺を建立し、師の遺志を実現した。現在の釈迦堂は1703年（元禄16）完成のもの。もと真言(しんごん)宗大覚寺派に属していたが、室町時代には融通(ゆうずう)念仏の大道場となり、このころから浄土宗に固まったとみられる。現在、棲霞寺は境内の阿弥陀堂に名を残すのみである。

　奝然将来の木造釈迦如来立像（国宝）は「生身の釈迦」といわれ、全国に数十躯(く)の模刻があり、その信仰の大きさを物語っている。そのほか絹本着色十六羅漢像（国宝）、木造十大弟子像、紙本着色融通念仏縁起、紙本着色釈迦堂縁起など多くの国重要文化財がある。大念仏狂言（4月中旬の土・日曜日）、お松明(たいまつ)式（3月15日）の行事は名高い。

［清水　乞］

『佐々木剛三著『清凉寺』（1965・中央公論美術出版）』

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