Daigoji Temple

Japanese: 醍醐寺 - だいごじ

Located in Daigogaran-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City, this temple is the head temple of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, Daigo school. It is also called Shinsetsu-san or Kasatori-san. The principal image of the temple is Yakushi Nyorai. The entire mountain of Kasatori-san is the temple grounds, with the top of the mountain called Kami-Daigo and the base called Shimo-Daigo, and there are over 80 buildings on both sides. It began when Rigen Daishi Shobo built a hermitage on the mountain during the Jogan era (859-877), followed by Juntei-do and Nyoirin-do. Furthermore, in 904 (Engi 4), Emperor Daigo, who was a devout follower of Shoho, built the Shakado Hall at the base of the mountain, and in 907 (Engi 7), the Yakushido Hall and the Godaido Hall at the top of the mountain, and the temple became a Jogakuji temple. In 919, the three abbots were appointed, and Kanken was appointed as the first abbot. Emperor Suzaku then built the Hoke Sammai Hall in 949 (Tenryaku 3), and Emperor Murakami built a five-story pagoda in 952 (Tenryaku 6) to commemorate Emperor Daigo, and the temple's fortunes flourished. Subsequent emperors also became devout followers of the temple, and the large temple complex was completed. During the Eikyu era (1113-18), Sanboin was built at the time of the 14th abbot Shokaku, followed by four other temples, Risho, Kongo-o, Muryoju, and Hoon, and were called the site of the five Daigomon gates. Since then, many learned monks have entered the mountain, and at its peak it was as grand as the entire Daigo mountain, with its monastery and temple roofs lined up. At first, the head priest of the temple took turns among the five priests, but Mansai, known as the Black Robe Prime Minister, became the head priest of Sanboin Temple during the Oei period (1394-1428) and earned the trust of the Ashikaga clan, helping to prosper the temple. Since then, it became customary for the head priest of Sanboin Temple to also serve as the head priest of Daigoji Temple. In 1470 (Bunmei 2), the temple was completely burned down by fire, leaving only the five-story pagoda, but the head priest of the temple at the time, Gien, gained the support of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and rebuilt it. In 1598 (Keicho 3), Hideyoshi restored the temple to its former appearance, including by hosting a cherry blossom viewing party at Daigo. During the Edo period, the Tokugawa clan also protected the temple, donating it land. Furthermore, this temple was the headquarters of the Tozan sect of Shugendo, centered around Sanboin Temple, but after the Meiji Restoration, Shugendo was abolished and Daigoji Temple was converted into the Shingon sect.

[Hiromune Mashiba]

Various temples and sub-temples

Kami-Daigo is home to the original building of the temple, the Juntei Kannon Hall (the current hall was rebuilt in 1968), which houses the principal image of Juntei Kannon and is famous as the 11th temple of the Thirty-Three Temples of the Western Region. The Yakushi Hall (national treasure) was rebuilt in 1121 (Hoan 2), but conveys the spirit of the Heian period and houses the principal image of Yakushi Nyorai and two attendant statues (both national treasures) said to have been made by Erisouzu. There is also the worship hall (national treasure) and main hall (national important cultural property) of Seirogu Shrine, the guardian deity of the mountain, which were rebuilt in 1434 (Eikyo 6), as well as the Godaido Hall, which enshrines the Five Great Wisdom Kings, the Nyoirin Hall, and the Kaisan Hall. There is a well called Daigosui Akakai, where water is drawn to be offered to Buddha, and it is said that this is the origin of the name Daigoji Temple.

Entering Shimo-Daigo's main gate, there is a row of cherry trees leading to the Niomon Gate. On either side of this path are Sanboin Temple and Hojuin Temple (Reihokan). Behind the Niomon Gate is the Shimo-Daigo temple complex, which includes the five-story pagoda and the main hall (both national treasures). The five-story pagoda is the oldest surviving building in Kyoto. Inside the first-story pagoda are 17 murals (national treasures), including the Ryōkai Mandala, statues of the Eight Shingon Patriarchs, and arabesque patterns painted on the central pillar surrounding panel, back panel of the lattice window, waist paneling, ceiling and beams, and recent dismantling and repair work revealed that there are also paintings on the Shiten-bashira and doors. The main hall was moved to its current location in 1600 (Keicho 5) by the Toyotomi clan from Manganji Temple in Wakayama Prefecture, and the Yakushi Triad, the principal image of the temple, is a nationally important cultural property. Other buildings include the Miei Hall, Kiyotaki Gongen Hall, and Nyonin Hall.

The existing sub-temples include Sanboin, Hoon-in, Rishoin, Kodai-in, Muryojuin, Kongo-in, Gakusai-in, and Joshin-in. Construction of the current Sanboin building began in 1598, and it consists of the Omote Shoin (national treasure), entrance hall, Imperial Envoy Room, Akikusa Room, Aoi Room, Shinden, Kuri, Junjokan, and Goma Hall (all of which are nationally important cultural properties). The buildings are connected by corridors around the Omote Shoin, and the walls and sliding doors of each room are painted with colorful paintings, and the shelves in the upper room of the Oku Shoin (sleeping hall) are a relic from the Momoyama period called Daigo-dana. The garden is a famous garden designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Historic Site. In 1994, Daigoji Temple was registered as a World Heritage Site (World Heritage Site. Kyoto's cultural assets include 17 shrines, temples, and castles, including Kiyomizu-dera Temple).

[Hiromune Mashiba]

Temple Treasures and Events

In addition to national treasures such as the Cain Sutra, colored silk paintings of the Five Great Deities, the Enma Ten statue, and the Monju and Kaizu painting, there are many other nationally important cultural properties, including 39 ink paintings of esoteric Buddhism on paper, the Dainichi Konrin statue, paintings such as the Ninnokyo Sutra Mandala, crafts such as gilt bronze Buddhist implements, and sculptures. Sanboin also has a colored silk statue of Kariteimo (national treasure). Many of the treasures are currently stored at Hojuin. Major annual events include the Godairikison Nio-e ceremony (February 23rd) and the Taiko cherry blossom viewing (second Sunday in April).

[Hiromune Mashiba]

"Ancient Temple Pilgrimage Kyoto 3 Daigoji Temple" (1976, Tankosha)" ▽ "Takashi Hamada ed., Daigoji Temple, Ninnaji Temple, and Daikakuji Temple" (Complete Collection of Art of Ancient Japanese Temples 14, 1982, Shueisha)"

Names of the parts of the five-story pagoda (Daigoji Temple)
©Shogakukan ">

Names of the parts of the five-story pagoda (Daigoji Temple)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

京都市伏見(ふしみ)区醍醐伽藍(がらん)町にある真言(しんごん)宗醍醐派の総本山。深雪(しんせつ)山または笠取山と号する。本尊は薬師如来(にょらい)。笠取山全山が寺域で、山上を上(かみ)醍醐、麓(ふもと)を下(しも)醍醐といい、上下醍醐に八十余棟の堂塔が配置されている。貞観(じょうがん)年間（859～877）理源(りげん)大師聖宝(しょうぼう)が山上に草庵(そうあん)を建てたのが始まりで、続いて准胝(じゅんてい)堂、如意輪(にょいりん)堂が建立された。さらに904年（延喜4）山下に釈迦(しゃか)堂、907年（延喜7）山上に薬師堂と五大堂が聖宝に帰依(きえ)した醍醐天皇によって建立され、定額寺(じょうがくじ)となった。919年、座主三綱(ざすさんごう)が置かれ、観賢(かんけん)が第1世座主に補任(ぶにん)された。続いて朱雀(すざく)天皇は949年（天暦3）法華三昧(ほっけざんまい)堂を建立し、村上(むらかみ)天皇は醍醐天皇追福のため952年（天暦6）五重塔を建立するなど寺運隆盛に向かい、その後の諸天皇も当寺に帰依し、大伽藍の完成をみるに至った。永久(えいきゅう)年間（1113～18）第14世勝覚のとき三宝院(さんぼういん)が建立され、ついで理性(りしょう)・金剛王(こんごうおう)・無量寿(むりょうじゅ)・報恩(ほうおん)の四院も建ち、醍醐五門跡と称された。以来多くの学僧が入山し、盛時には醍醐全山の伽藍坊舎甍(いらか)を並べた壮大さであった。初めは五門跡の高僧が交替で当寺の座主を務めたが、黒衣の宰相(さいそう)とよばれた満済(まんさい)が、応永(おうえい)年間（1394～1428）三宝院門跡となり、足利(あしかが)氏の信任を得て寺門の興隆に尽くして以来、三宝院門跡が醍醐寺座主を兼ねるのが通例となった。1470年（文明2）、兵火によって五重塔を残しことごとく焼失したが、時の座主義演(ぎえん)が豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉の帰依を受けて再興し、1598年（慶長3）に秀吉は醍醐の花見を催すなどして旧観を取り戻した。江戸時代には徳川氏も当寺を保護し、寺領を寄進した。また当寺は三宝院を中心として修験道(しゅげんどう)当山派の本拠地とされてきたが、明治維新後、修験道が廃止され、醍醐寺は真言宗に帰入された。

［眞柴弘宗］

諸堂・塔頭

上醍醐には、当寺最初の堂である准胝観音(かんのん)堂（現堂は1968年の再建）があり、本尊准胝観音が安置され、西国三十三所第11番札所として著名である。薬師堂（国宝）は1121年（保安2）再建のものであるが、平安時代の気風を伝え、会理僧都(えりそうず)作と伝える本尊薬師如来および両脇侍(きょうじ)像（ともに国宝）が安置されている。また1434年（永享6）に再建の一山の鎮守清滝宮(せいろうぐう)拝殿（国宝）と本殿（国重要文化財）があり、ほかに五大明王を祀(まつ)る五大堂、如意輪堂、開山堂などがある。仏に供える水をくむ醍醐水閼伽井(あかい)があり、醍醐寺の名のおこりともいう。

　下醍醐は、総門を入ると桜並木があり、仁王門に至る。この道の左右に三宝院、宝聚(ほうじゅ)院（霊宝館）がある。仁王門の奥が下醍醐の伽藍で、五重塔、金堂（いずれも国宝）などがある。五重塔は京都における現存最古の建築。初層塔内には壁画17面（国宝）があり、両界曼荼羅(まんだら)図、真言八祖像、唐草文(からくさもん)などが、心柱囲板(かこいいた)、連子窓(れんじまど)裏板、腰羽目板、天井や梁(はり)に描かれており、近年の解体修理で四天柱と扉にも絵があることが確認された。金堂は創建の位置に1600年（慶長5）豊臣氏が和歌山県満願寺の堂を移したもので、本尊薬師三尊像は国重要文化財。ほかに御影(みえい)堂、清滝権現(ごんげん)堂、女人堂などがある。

　現存する塔頭(たっちゅう)寺院には三宝院、報恩院、理性(りしょう)院、光台(こうだい)院、無量寿院、金剛王院、岳西(がくさい)院、成身(じょうしん)院などがある。三宝院の現在の殿舎は1598年に起工され、表書院（国宝）、玄関、勅使の間、秋草の間、葵(あおい)の間、宸殿(しんでん)、庫裡(くり)、純浄観、護摩堂（以上、国重要文化財）よりなる。表書院を中心に各渡廊でつながれ、各室の壁、ふすまなどは彩色画が描かれ、奥書院（寝殿）上段の間の違い棚は醍醐棚とよばれる桃山時代の遺構。庭園は特別名勝・史跡指定の名園。1994年（平成6）、醍醐寺は世界遺産の文化遺産として登録された（世界文化遺産。京都の文化財は清水寺など17社寺・城が一括登録されている）。

［眞柴弘宗］

寺宝・行事

紙本着色絵因果経、絹本着色五大尊像、同閻魔(えんま)天像、同文殊渡海(もんじゅとかい)図などの国宝のほか、紙本墨画密教図像39点、大日金輪(こんりん)像、仁王経(にんのうきょう)曼荼羅図などの絵画、金銅仏具などの工芸品、彫刻など国重要文化財は非常に多い。また三宝院には絹本着色訶梨帝母(かりていも)像（国宝）がある。宝物の多くは現在宝聚院に収蔵されている。おもな年中行事に五大力尊仁王会(ごだいりきそんにんのうえ)（2月23日）、太閤(たいこう)花見（4月第2日曜）がある。

［眞柴弘宗］

『『古寺巡礼　京都3　醍醐寺』（1976・淡交社）』▽『浜田隆編『醍醐寺と仁和寺・大覚寺』（『日本古寺美術全集14』1982・集英社）』

五重塔の各部名称（醍醐寺）

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