Todaiji Temple

Japanese: 東大寺 - とうだいじ

The head temple of the Kegon sect, located in Zoshicho, Nara City. It is also called Daikegon-ji Temple or Konkomyo Shitenno Gokokuji Temple. The principal image is Vairocana Buddha, and it is famous as the Great Buddha of Nara. It was founded in the Nara period. It was the center of all the provincial temples in Japan, which were established based on the imperial decree of March 24, 741 (Tenpyo 13) based on the ideas of the Konkomyo Saisho-okyo Sutra, and was also called Sokokubunji Temple. The purpose of constructing the Great Buddha was to realize the ideal world described in the Kegon Sutra, that is, the world of the lotus treasury, in this world, and also to show Japanese culture to the world. The name Todai-ji comes from the meaning of a large temple located east of Heijo-kyo. It is one of the Seven Great Temples of Nara.

[Teikai Hiraoka]

history

This temple is said to have been founded at the request of Emperor Shomu and with the encouragement of Empress Komyo. On October 15, 743, an imperial decree was issued to create the Vairocana Buddha, which stated, "We will carve out Mt. Oyama and build a hall there, so that it will have a widespread impact on the Dharma world and become our knowledge." Todaiji Temple was founded based on this original wish to create a statue of the Vairocana Buddha. Initially, they planned to cast a Great Buddha near Shigaraki Palace in Omi Province (Shiga Prefecture), but this goal was not achieved, so they moved the statue to the foothills east of Heijo-kyo and began work on it in 747. In the year the imperial edict for the construction of the Great Buddha was issued, Gyoki was given the important task of raising funds for its construction, and although he was already 76 years old, he led his disciples and worked hard to raise funds. The Great Buddha was cast in eight separate pours, and was finally completed in 749 (Tenpyo Shoho 1). It is believed that the method used to cast the Great Buddha was probably using wax molds, which was popular at the time. The assets used to cast the Great Buddha were said to be 133,110 kan of copper, 2,271 kan of tin, 117 kan of refined metal, 660 kan of mercury, and 16,656 koku of charcoal, making it a major national project.

The eye-opening ceremony for this gigantic Great Buddha was held on April 9, 752, with Emperor Shomu, Emperor Koken, Empress Dowager Komyo, Tachibana Moroe and others in attendance, and Bodhisena, who came all the way from India, as the chief priest. The current Great Buddha is bronze-colored after two fires caused by war, but originally the Buddha's body shone golden, his hair on his head was deep blue, his lips red and he was placed on a double marble lotus pedestal, sitting 5 jo 3 shaku 5 sun (about 16 meters). Even today, a hair carving depicting the "Lotus Treasury World Sea Map" from the "Avatamsaka Sutra" remains on the petals of the pedestal.

Todaiji Temple was founded with this principal image as its center, and the monk Roben Sojo, who worked hard to build the temple, was appointed the first betto in 752, and his teacher Shinjo lectured the Avatamsaka Sutra for the first time at the temple. Todaiji Temple respects the four people who worked hard to build the temple, Emperor Shomu, Gyoki, Bodhisena, and Roben, as the Four Saints. By around 757 (Tenpyo Hoji 1), the Great South Gate, the East and West Pagodas, the lecture hall, and the three-sided monks' quarters had been completed, and the temple complex was complete. After Roben, it was Roben's disciple Jitchu who devoted himself to the maintenance and upkeep of the Todaiji temple complex. He also performed the Shunie ceremony for the Nigatsudo Hall for the first time in 753.

Buddhism in the Nara period was a sectarian school of Buddhism that studied all six schools (Kegon, Hosso, Kusha, Sanron, Jojitsu, and Vinaya), and Todaiji Temple was the central training center for Kegon, Sanron, and Kusha. After the death of Roben in 773 (Hōki 4), the popularity of the Kegon sect declined when the capital was moved to Heian-kyo, but the influence of the Shingon sect began to spread after Kukai was appointed the 14th chief priest of Todaiji Temple in 810 (Kōnin 1). In February 822, he built a training center for abbots at Todaiji Temple and performed a ritual for the protection of the nation and the promotion of prosperity and disaster prevention. This was the beginning of the Shingon-in Temple at Todaiji Temple. However, because this temple was a place of study for eight sects, during the Heian period it contained Sonsho-in temples for studying the Kegon sect, Tonan-in temples founded by Shobo (the founder of Daigo-ji Temple) for studying the Sanron and Shingon sects, Chisoku-in temples for the Hosso sect, and Kaidan-in temples for the Ritsu sect, and Todai-ji was the central training center in Nara for the study of Buddhist teachings.

During the Nara period, Todaiji Temple owned many manors in Echizen Province (Fukui Prefecture) and Iga Province (Mie Prefecture), and in the Middle Ages, famous estates included Kuroda Manor in Iga Province, and Akanabe Manor and Oi Manor in Mino Province (Gifu Prefecture).

In the Heian period, damage was seen, such as the head of the Great Buddha falling off in a major earthquake in 855 (Saiko 2). As for the temple buildings, the monks' quarters and lecture hall burned in 917 (Engi 17), the West Pagoda was burned down by lightning in 934 (Shohei 4), and the Great South Gate collapsed in 962 (Owa 2). Furthermore, in 1180 (Jisho 4), Taira Shigehira set fire to Nara, destroying most of the buildings at Todaiji. The following year, in 1181, an imperial decree was issued to rebuild Todaiji, and Shunjobo Chogen was appointed as the Daikanjinsho (Great Advisor) for the construction of Todaiji, and planned the reconstruction, and requested Minamoto no Yoritomo to use Suo Province (Yamaguchi Prefecture) as a construction fee province to procure materials. In addition, due to the need to transport lumber, the temple expanded its land area to the Seto Inland Sea region, including Noda Manor in Bizen Province (Okayama Prefecture). Chogen also enlisted the help of Chin Heqing of Song and others to cast a replacement for the fallen head of the Great Buddha, and a consecration ceremony was held in 1185 (Bun'ji 1).

During the Kamakura period, as the temple buildings were rebuilt, the study of Kegon Buddhism also began, and the momentum for the revival of teachings grew with the emergence of such monks as Benkyo, Sosho, and Gyonen, centered around Sonsho-in. In addition, Myoe Shonin Kouben opened Kozan-ji Temple in Toganoo, Kyoto, as a training center for Kegon and Shingon Buddhism. However, during the conflict between the Northern and Southern Courts, Todai-ji Temple was divided into two factions, the nobles (Tōnan-in Monzeki line) and the samurai (Sonsho-in line), and the temple fell into disrepair. Furthermore, in 1567 (Eiroku 10), the Great Buddha Hall was burned down during the conflict between Matsunaga Hisahide and the Miyoshi Triumvirate, and the Great Buddha remained exposed until the mid-Edo period. In 1688 (Genroku 1), the priest Kokei Shonin became the chief monk and, with the support of the Edo Shogunate, began to make donations to various provinces. With the assistance of the 5th Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, and his birth mother, Keishoin, the reconstruction of the Great Buddha Hall progressed, and the current Great Buddha Hall was completed in 1692.

As a result of the Meiji Restoration, the temple's 3,500 koku of land was abolished, making repairs to the Great Buddha Hall impossible, but repairs were completed in 1898 (Meiji 31) with assistance from the government. Furthermore, due to the separation of Shinto and Buddhism, Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine was separated and became an independent head temple of the Kegon sect. In 1980 (Showa 55), the Showa era major repairs to the large roof of the Great Buddha Hall, which began in 1973, were completed.

[Teikai Hiraoka]

Cultural properties and annual events

The current temple grounds are centered around the Great Buddha Hall, and include buildings such as the Great South Gate, the Bell Tower, the Shunjodo Hall, the Kaisando Hall, the Hokkedo Hall (March Hall), the Nigatsudo Hall, the Kanjodo Hall (Kangakuin), the Kaidan-in Hall, and the Tegaimon Gate. Additionally, to the north (back) of the Great Buddha Hall is the Shosoin Repository, and to the east is the Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine. The various halls house many sculptures that are national treasures and important cultural properties, including the Vairocana Buddha. There are also many cultural assets such as paintings, crafts, and calligraphy, including the silk painting of the Kusha Mandala, the paper painting of the Fifty-Five Temples of the Glorious Guardian, one volume of the Kengukyo Sutra, a leather painting with grape arabesque design (all national treasures), the silk painting of the Kosho Daishi statue, the Kegon Kaie Zenchishiki Mandala (both important cultural properties), and the Todaiji Yoroku. In 1998, it was registered as a World Heritage Site (World Cultural Heritage. Nara's cultural assets include eight shrines and temples, including Kofuku-ji Temple).

The most well-known annual event at Todaiji Temple is the Omizutori ritual at the Shunie Ceremony at Nigatsudo Hall. The Shunie ceremony is held at Nigatsudo Hall from March 1st to March 27th (14 days), during which time the Omizutori and Dattana Hiho rituals are performed. Other notable events include the Shushoe Ceremony on January 7th and the Kejoe Ceremony on July 28th, both held at the Great Buddha Hall.

[Teikai Hiraoka]

Todaiji Temple property

The Todaiji temple territory is
[1] The formation of ancient Hokuriku manors in the Nara period, centered on reclaimed land. [2] From the Heian period to the Muromachi period. [A] The transformation of fuko into manors. [B] The collapse of medieval Kinai-style manors and the pursuit of early modern port profits. [3] The transition to the kokudaka system in the early modern period. In the Nara period, temple estates such as Chimori Manor and Kuwabara Manor in Echizen Province (Fukui Prefecture) were established, and in the Heian period, Kuroda Manor and Tamataki Manor were established in Iga Province (Mie Prefecture), centered on Itabaenosoma and Tamataki Soma, which were established to transport lumber for the construction of Todaiji Temple. In particular, in Yamato Province (Nara Prefecture), manors were established by the accumulation of scattered manors. As the Daibutsu Shohakumai tax-free fields, there were Ichii Manor and Kohigashi Manor, as the Daibutsu Shohakumai tax-free fields, Wani Manor and Ooye Manor, as the Daibutsu Shohakuna tax-free fields, and Takadono Manor and Nishikidono Manor were tax-free fields where lamp oil fees were donated to the Daibutsu.

At the end of the Heian period, after the burning of Todaiji Temple in 1180 (Jisho 4), the temple's land was reduced drastically, with the total area of the manor falling to about 2,500 cho, roughly half of the 4,300 cho of the early Heian period. Chogen then succeeded in acquiring the confiscated land of the Taira clan and turning Suo Province into a fiefdom, and worked to secure the Seto Inland Sea region. As a result of the Taiko land survey during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, the temple's land control was reduced and the rice yield system was implemented, with the temple's land yield being set at 3,500 koku in the Edo period. Originally a national temple, it shrank as times changed and it became a local temple.

[Teikai Hiraoka]

"Todaiji Summary, edited by Tsutsui Hidetoshi (1982, Kokusho Kankokai)" ▽ "Todaiji Series, 2 volumes, edited by Buddhist Book Publishing Association (1978, Daiichi Shobo)" ▽ "Todaiji, 2 volumes, written by Ishida Shigesaku (1976, Kodansha)" ▽ "Todaiji, edited by the Nara Rokudaiji Daikan Publishing Association (Nara Rokudaiji Daikan 9-11, 1979, Iwanami Shoten)" ▽ "Todaiji, edited by the Todaiji Theology Department (1973, Gakuseisha)" ▽ "Todaiji Dictionary, written by Hiraoka Teikai (1980, Tokyodo Publishing)" ▽ "Todaiji, written by Tanaka Yoshiyasu (1980, Shogakukan)"

[Reference] | Omizutori

Map of Todaiji Temple's territories
©Shogakukan ">

Map of Todaiji Temple's territories

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

奈良市雑司(ぞうし)町にある華厳(けごん)宗の大本山。大華厳寺、金光明四天王護国寺(こんこうみょうしてんのうごこくじ)などとも称する。本尊は盧舎那仏(るしゃなぶつ)で、奈良の大仏として有名。奈良時代の創建。『金光明最勝王経(こんこうみょうさいしょうおうきょう)』の思想を根幹とした、741年（天平13）3月24日の詔(みことのり)に基づいて設置された全国国分寺の中心となって、総国分寺とも称された。大仏造顕(ぞうけん)の目的は、『華厳経』で説く理想の世界、すなわち蓮華蔵(れんげぞう)世界をこの世に実現しようとしたものであり、さらに日本の文化を世界に示そうとするものであった。東大寺の名称は、平城京の東にある大寺(おおてら)という意味に由来する。南都七大寺の一つ。

［平岡定海］

歴史

この寺は聖武(しょうむ)天皇の発願で、光明(こうみょう)皇后の勧めによって創建されたといわれている。743年10月15日に盧舎那仏造顕の詔が発せられ、詔に、「大山を削りて、以(もっ)て堂を構え、広く法界に及ぼして、朕(ちん)が知識となす」とあり、盧舎那仏造像の本願に基づいて東大寺が創建されたのであった。最初は近江(おうみ)国（滋賀県）の紫香楽宮(しがらきのみや)の近くで大仏を鋳造しようと計画したが、目的を果たせず、平城京の東の山麓(さんろく)に移して747年造像を始めた。大仏造営の詔が発せられた年、行基(ぎょうき)は大仏造営勧進(かんじん)の大役を命ぜられ、すでに76歳の高齢であったが、弟子らを率い勧進に奔走した。大仏は前後8回にわたって流し込みを行い、749年（天平勝宝1）についに完成した。大仏鋳造の方法は、おそらく当時盛んに行われていた蝋(ろう)型だといわれている。大仏鋳造に用いた資財は、銅13万3110貫、錫(すず)2271貫、練金117貫、水銀660貫、炭1万6656石といわれており、まったくの国家的大事業であった。

　この巨大な大仏の開眼供養(かいげんくよう)は752年4月9日に聖武太上(だじょう)天皇、孝謙(こうけん)天皇、光明皇太后、橘諸兄(たちばなのもろえ)らが参加し、はるばるインドから訪れた菩提僊那(ぼだいせんな)を開眼導師として盛大に行われた。現在の大仏は二度の兵火による炎上で青銅色となっているが、もとは仏身が金色に輝き、頭の螺髪(らほつ)は紺青(こんじょう)、唇は赤色などで、大理石の二重の蓮台(れんだい)の上に5丈3尺5寸（約16メートル）の坐高(ざこう)をもって安置されていた。現在もこの蓮台の蓮弁に『華厳経』の「蓮華蔵世界海図」を描いた毛彫りが残っている。

　この本尊を中心に東大寺が創建され、当寺の建立に尽力した良弁僧正(ろうべんそうじょう)は752年初代別当職に補せられ、彼の師の審祥(しんじょう)によって『華厳経』がこの寺で初めて講ぜられたのである。東大寺では創建に力を尽くした4人、すなわち聖武天皇、行基、菩提僊那、良弁を四聖(ししょう)と称して尊んでいる。757年（天平宝字1）ころまでに南大門、東西両塔院、講堂、三面僧房などが完成して伽藍(がらん)が整ったが、良弁のあと東大寺伽藍の整備と維持にとくに力を尽くしたのは良弁の弟子実忠(じっちゅう)である。また、彼は753年に二月堂修二会(しゅにえ)を初めて修した。

　奈良時代の仏教は六宗（華厳・法相(ほっそう)・倶舎(くしゃ)・三論・成実(じょうじつ)・律）兼学の学派仏教で、東大寺は華厳・三論・倶舎の中心道場であった。773年（宝亀4）良弁の示寂(じじゃく)後、華厳宗の盛大さは、都が平安京へ移されるとともに衰え、810年（弘仁1）空海が第14代東大寺別当に任ぜられてより真言(しんごん)宗の勢力が浸透した。彼は、822年2月、東大寺に灌頂(かんじょう)道場を建立し、鎮護国家のため息災増益(そくさいぞうやく)の法を修した。これが東大寺真言院の始まりである。しかし、この寺は八宗兼学の寺院であったから、平安時代には華厳宗を学ぶための尊勝(そんしょう)院、三論宗・真言宗を学ぶために聖宝(しょうぼう)（醍醐(だいご)寺開山）が開いた東南院、法相宗の道場の知足(ちそく)院、律宗のための戒壇(かいだん)院などがあり、東大寺は仏教教学研究のための南都での中心道場であった。

　東大寺は奈良時代には越前(えちぜん)国（福井県）や伊賀国（三重県）などに多くの荘園(しょうえん)を保有し、中世では伊賀国黒田荘(しょう)、美濃(みの)国（岐阜県）茜部(あかなべ)荘・大井荘などが有名であった。

　平安時代になると、855年（斉衡2）大地震で大仏の頭部が落ちるなど損傷がみられる。伽藍についても、917年（延喜17）に僧坊と講堂を炎上、934年（承平4）には西塔を雷火によって焼失、962年（応和2）には南大門が倒壊した。さらに1180年（治承4）平重衡(しげひら)の南都焼打ちによって東大寺も諸堂のほとんどを焼失した。翌1181年、東大寺再興の詔が発せられ、俊乗房重源(しゅんじょうぼうちょうげん)が造東大寺大勧進職に起用されて再興を図り、源頼朝(よりとも)に願って周防(すおう)国（山口県）を造営料国として用材調達を図った。また、用材運送の必要から備前(びぜん)国（岡山県）野田荘をはじめ、瀬戸内海地域に寺領を拡大していった。また、重源は、宋(そう)の陳和卿(ちんなけい)らの協力を得て、落下した大仏頭部を鋳造し、1185年（文治1）開眼供養が行われた。

　鎌倉時代には、伽藍が再興されるに伴って、華厳教学もおこり、尊勝院を中心として、弁暁(べんぎょう)、宗性(そうしょう)、凝然(ぎょうねん)らが輩出して教学復興の機運が高まった。また、別に明恵上人高弁(みょうえしょうにんこうべん)は京都栂尾(とがのお)に高山寺を開いて華厳・真言の道場とした。しかし、南北朝の争乱のとき東大寺は公家(くげ)（東南院門跡(もんぜき)系）と武家（尊勝院系）の2派に分かれて争ったために、寺内も荒廃し、さらに1567年（永禄10）には松永久秀(ひさひで)と三好(みよし)三人衆との争いに巻き込まれて大仏殿が炎上し、江戸中期まで露座の大仏と化した。1688年（元禄1）に公慶上人(こうけいしょうにん)が大勧進職となり、江戸幕府の援助のもとに諸国に勧進を始め、5代将軍徳川綱吉(つなよし)、その生母桂昌院(けいしょういん)らの援助を得て大仏殿再建が進められ、1692年に現在の大仏殿が落成した。

　明治維新の結果、いままでの3500石の知行(ちぎょう)も消滅し、大仏殿の修理が不可能となったが、1898年（明治31）には政府の援助で修理が完成した。また、神仏分離により手向山八幡宮(たむけやまはちまんぐう)を分離し、華厳宗大本山として独立した。1980年（昭和55）には、1973年から始められた昭和の大仏殿大屋根の大修理が完成した。

［平岡定海］

文化財と年中行事

現在の境内は、大仏殿を中心に、南大門、鐘楼(しょうろう)、俊乗堂、開山堂、法華堂（三月堂）、二月堂、灌頂堂（勧学院）、戒壇院、転害(てがい)門などの建造物が建ち並んでいる。また、大仏殿の北方（裏手）には正倉院、東方には手向山八幡宮がある。諸堂内には、盧舎那仏をはじめとして多数の国宝・国重要文化財の彫刻を蔵している。また、絹本着色倶舎曼荼羅(ぐしゃまんだら)図、紙本着色華厳五十五所絵巻、『賢愚経(けんぐきょう)』1巻、葡萄唐草文染革(ぶどうからくさもんそめかわ)（以上、国宝）、絹本着色香象大師像、同華厳海会善知識曼荼羅図（ともに重文）、『東大寺要録』など絵画、工芸品、書跡などの文化財も多い。1998年（平成10）、世界遺産の文化遺産として登録された（世界文化遺産。奈良の文化財は興福(こうふく)寺など8社寺等が一括登録されている）。

　東大寺の年中行事のなかでもっとも知られているのは二月堂修二会(しゅにえ)の「御水取(おみずとり)」の行法である。3月1日から二七日(にしちにち)（14日間）、二月堂で修二会の法要を営み、その間「御水取」「達陀(だったん)秘法」などが行われる。そのほか大仏殿で行われる正月7日の修正会(しゅしょうえ)、7月28日の解除会(けじょえ)なども代表的な行事である。

［平岡定海］

東大寺領

東大寺領は、
〔1〕墾田を中心とする奈良時代の古代北陸系荘園の形成
〔2〕平安時代から室町時代に至る
　〔ア〕封戸(ふこ)の荘園化
　〔イ〕中世的畿内(きない)型荘園の崩壊と近世的港湾収益の追求
〔3〕近世における石高(こくだか)制への移行
の諸段階を経て、変遷していった。奈良時代には、越前国（福井県）道守(ちもり)荘、桑原(くわばら)荘などの寺領が成立し、平安時代では、東大寺造営の材木搬出のために設定された伊賀国（三重県）の板蠅杣(いたばえのそま)、玉滝(たまたき)杣などを中心に発生した同国黒田荘、玉滝荘がある。ことに大和(やまと)国（奈良県）では、散在的な荘田の集積によって荘園が成立した。大仏御仏聖白米(ごぶつしょうはくまい)免田として櫟(いちい)荘、小東(こひがし)荘などがあり、大仏仏聖香菜(こうな)免田として和邇(わに)荘、大宅(おおえ)荘などがあり、また大仏灯油料を差し出す御油免田としての高殿(たかどの)荘、西喜殿(にしきどの)荘などがあった。

　平安末期、1180年（治承4）の東大寺炎上後、寺領の減少は甚だしく、荘園の総面積は約2500町で、平安初期の4300余町に対して約半分となってしまった。そこで重源は平家の没官(もっかん)領の獲得と周防国の知行国(ちぎょうこく)化に成功し、瀬戸内地域の確保に努めた。安土(あづち)桃山時代の太閤(たいこう)検地の結果、寺領支配は減少して石高制が実施され、寺領は江戸時代には知行高3500石に定められた。もともと国家的寺院であったのが、時代の変遷とともに地方寺院として縮小していったのである。

［平岡定海］

『筒井英俊校訂『東大寺要録』（1982・国書刊行会）』▽『仏書刊行会編『東大寺叢書』全2巻（1978・第一書房）』▽『石田茂作著『東大寺』全2巻（1976・講談社）』▽『奈良六大寺大観刊行会編『東大寺』（『奈良六大寺大観9～11』1979・岩波書店）』▽『東大寺教学部編『東大寺』（1973・学生社）』▽『平岡定海著『東大寺辞典』（1980・東京堂出版）』▽『田中義恭著『東大寺』（1980・小学館）』

[参照項目] | 御水取

東大寺領配置図

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例

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