Daikakuji Temple

Japanese: 大覚寺 - だいかくじ

A temple located in Saga Osawa-cho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City. It is the head temple of the Shingon sect Daikakuji school. The mountain name is Sagayama. Its formal name is the former Saga Imperial Palace Daikakuji Monzeki, and it is also called Saga Imperial Palace. The principal image is the Five Great Myo-o. In the early Heian period, Emperor Saga built a villa here, and after abdicating, it became the Sento Imperial Palace and was called Saga-in. In 811 (Kōnin 2), he ordered Kukai to carve statues of the Five Great Myo-o and practice the secret teachings of the Five Great Myo-o. In the spring of 818 (Kōnin 9), during an epidemic, the emperor copied out the Heart Sutra on dark blue paper with gold paint and built the Heart Sutra Hall, which Kukai dedicated to him. Due to this connection, he continues to copy the Heart Sutra to this day. In 876 (Jogan 18), Emperor Saga's daughter, Princess Masako (Empress of Emperor Junna), inherited Sagain Temple and converted it into a Buddhist temple. Emperor Saga's grandson, Cloistered Prince Kojaku, became the temple's founder, and successive Cloistered Princes have been priests ever since. In 1268 (Bun'ei 5), Emperor Gosaga entered the temple, followed by Cloistered Emperor Kameyama. In 1308 (Enkei 1), Cloistered Emperor Gouda entered the temple and worked hard to build the temple buildings, so he is known as the Cloistered Emperor Daikakuji and is considered the temple's founder. The abbots of the temple were members of the imperial lineages of Emperor Kameyama-in and Emperor Gouda-in, and so this lineage was called the Daikakuji lineage. It was divided in power with the Jimyo-in lineage of Emperor Gofukakusa, and was one of the reasons for the division of the Northern and Southern Courts. In 1336 (Engen 1, Kenmu 3), it was burned down by war, but was later rebuilt. It is also known as the historical setting where the Three Sacred Treasures were handed over from Emperor Gokameyama of the Southern Court to Emperor Gokomatsu of the Northern Court during the peace treaty between the Southern Court (Daikakuji lineage) and the Northern Court (Jimyo-in lineage) in 1392 (Genchu 9, Meitoku 3). It was burned down again during the Onin War, but was gradually restored to its former state under the patronage of the Toyotomi and Tokugawa families. From the end of the Edo period to the beginning of the Meiji period, the temple fell into decline and was abandoned for a time, but in 1876 (Meiji 9), it was restored with 200 koku of rice from the Imperial Court, and in 1900 (Meiji 33), it became independent as a Daikakuji sect temple.

[Akiko Sobue]

Buildings and treasures

Within the temple grounds are the Shinden Hall, the Seishinden Hall (both designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan), the Godaido Hall (main hall), and the Mie Hall. The Seishinden (guest hall) is in the Shoin-zukuri style of the Momoyama period, and each of its 11 rooms is decorated with gorgeous screen paintings by Kano Sanraku, Tan'yu, and others. The Shinden Hall is a palace building from the early Edo period, and is said to have been donated by Emperor Gomizunoo (reigned 1611-29). The sliding doors inside, depicting Peony and Red Plum Blossoms (designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan), are masterpieces of Momoyama screen paintings said to have been painted by Kano Sanraku. To the east of the temple is Osawa Pond, which is said to have been modeled after Lake Dongting in China, and has been known since ancient times for its beautiful scenery. The remains of Nakoso Falls, located northeast of the pond, were mentioned in the Hyakunin Isshu poems by Fujiwara no Kinto. The temple treasures include the national treasures "Gotein Yuigou" (handwritten inscriptions of the seals of Emperor Gouda) and "Kobo Daishi Eden" (pictures of Kobo Daishi), as well as a number of other nationally designated Important Cultural Properties, including a colored silk statue of the Five Great Kokuzo, a wooden statue of the Five Great Myo-o, and wall paintings. Major annual events include the Ikebana Festival, the Mando Mangee, the Saga Chrysanthemum Exhibition, and a copying session of the Heart Sutra. The Saga Goryu school of Ikebana, which is said to have been founded by Emperor Saga, is practiced at the temple, and a Ikebana College has been established.

[Akiko Sobue]

"Ancient Temple Pilgrimage: Daikakuji Temple, Kyoto" (1978, Tankosha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

京都市右京区嵯峨(さが)大沢町にある寺。真言(しんごん)宗大覚寺派の大本山。山号は嵯峨山。正式には旧嵯峨御所大覚寺門跡(もんぜき)と称し、嵯峨御所ともいう。本尊は五大明王。平安初期、嵯峨天皇は当地に離宮をつくり、譲位後は仙洞(せんとう)御所とし嵯峨院と称したが、811年（弘仁2）に空海に勅して五大明王像を刻し、五大明王の秘法を修せしめた。818年（弘仁9）春、疫病流行の際、天皇は紺紙金泥(こんしこんでい)の『般若心経(はんにゃしんぎょう)』を書写して心経堂を建て、空海が奉供した。この縁でいまでも心経写経を進めている。876年（貞観18）嵯峨天皇の皇女正子内親皇（淳和(じゅんな)天皇皇后）が嵯峨院を譲り受けて仏寺に改め、嵯峨天皇の孫にあたる恒寂(こうじゃく)法親王が開山となり、以後、代々法親王が入った。1268年（文永5）後嵯峨(ごさが)上皇が、続いて亀山(かめやま)法皇が入寺。また1308年（延慶1）には後宇多(ごうだ)法皇が入寺して伽藍(がらん)の造営に努めたので、大覚寺法皇と称せられ当山の中興開山とされる。亀山院、後宇多院の皇統に属する皇族が代々住持を勤めたので、この皇統を大覚寺統とよび、後深草(ごふかくさ)天皇の皇統である持明(じみょう)院統と勢力を二分し、南北両朝分立の原因ともなった。1336年（延元1・建武3）兵火により全焼、のち再建された。1392年（元中9・明徳3）南朝（大覚寺統）と北朝（持明院統）の講和のおり、南朝の後亀山(ごかめやま)天皇から北朝の後小松(ごこまつ)天皇に三種の神器が授受された歴史的舞台としても知られる。応仁(おうにん)の乱でふたたび焼失したが、豊臣(とよとみ)・徳川両家の外護(げご)によりしだいに旧に復した。江戸末期から明治初期にかけて衰退し、一時無住となったが、1876年（明治9）に宮中から200石を受けて復興し、1900年（明治33）に大覚寺派として独立した。

［祖父江章子］

建造物・寺宝

境内には宸殿(しんでん)、正宸殿（以上、国の重要文化財）、五大堂（本堂）、御影(みえ)堂などがある。正寝殿（客殿）は桃山時代の書院造の様式で、11間(ま)ある各室は狩野山楽(かのうさんらく)・探幽(たんゆう)らの豪華な障壁画で飾られている。宸殿は江戸初期の宮殿建築で、後水尾(ごみずのお)天皇（在位1611～29）の寄進と伝える。内部の襖絵(ふすまえ)『牡丹(ぼたん)図』『紅梅図』（国の重要文化財）は狩野山楽筆とされる桃山障壁画の傑作。寺の東には中国の洞庭(どうてい)湖を模したという大沢池(おおさわのいけ)があり、古来風光の美しさで知られる。池の北東の名古曽(なこそ)滝跡は藤原公任(きんとう)が百人一首に詠んでいる。寺宝には、後宇多天皇宸翰(しんかん)「御手印遺告(ごていんゆいごう)」、「弘法(こうぼう)大師絵伝」が国宝に指定されるほか、絹本着色五大虚空蔵(こくうぞう)像、木造五大明王像、障壁画など国指定の重要文化財が多数ある。おもな年中行事に華道祭、万灯万華会(まんどうまんげえ)、嵯峨菊花展、『般若心経』の写経会がある。なお、当寺には嵯峨天皇が始祖といわれる、いけ花の流派「嵯峨御流(ごりゅう)」が伝わり、華道専門学校が設けられている。

［祖父江章子］

『『古寺巡礼　京都　大覚寺』（1978・淡交社）』

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