Hokanji Temple

This temple is of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism, Kenninji school, located in Yasakakami-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City. It is called Reio-zan and commonly known as Yasaka-no-to. The principal image is the Gochinyorai (Five Buddhas of Wisdom) (Dainichi, Shaka, Amida, Hosho, and Ashuku). It is said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku, and Yasaka no Miyatsuko, a powerful immigrant clan based in Yasaka-go, was involved in its founding. It was one of the seven temples listed in the Engishiki as offering offerings for Obon (the other two being To-ji, Sai-ji, Saji-dera, Node-dera, Izumo-dera and Shoshin-ji). It was burned down in 1179 (Jisho 3) and rebuilt by Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1192 (Kenkyu 3). In 1240 (Ninji 1), Saiō Shokyu, the 8th abbot of Kennin-ji, took up residence there and converted to Shingon Buddhism. Thereafter, it flourished as a Zen temple. However, after the Onin War, it rapidly declined, and today all that remains are the five-story pagoda (a nationally important cultural property), the Prince's Hall and the Yakushido Hall. The five-story pagoda was built in 1440 (Eikyo 12) on foundation stones from the Asuka period. Known as Yasaka Pagoda, it is a symbol of Higashiyama. The temple treasure, a colored paper drawing of Yasaka Pagoda, is a national important cultural property.

[Toshiaki Hirai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

京都市東山区八坂上(やさかかみ)町にある臨済(りんざい)宗建仁(けんにん)寺派の寺。霊応山(れいおうざん)と号し、通称を八坂塔(やさかのとう)という。本尊は五智如来(ごちにょらい)（大日(だいにち)、釈迦(しゃか)、阿弥陀(あみだ)、宝生(ほうしょう)、阿閦(あしゅく)）。聖徳太子の創建と伝えられ、創建には、八坂郷を拠点としていた渡来系豪族の八坂造(やさかのみやつこ)がかかわったという。『延喜式(えんぎしき)』盂蘭盆(うらぼん)供養料七か寺（当寺のほか、東寺(とうじ)、西寺(さいじ)、佐比寺、野寺、出雲(いずも)寺、聖神(しょうしん)寺）の一つであった。1179年（治承3）兵火にかかり、1192年（建久3）源頼朝(よりとも)により再興される。1240年（仁治1）建仁寺第8世済翁証救(さいおうしょうきゅう)が入住し、真言(しんごん)宗を改めて、以後は禅刹(ぜんさつ)として栄えた。しかし応仁(おうにん)の乱ののちは急速に衰微し、現在では五重塔（国の重要文化財）、太子堂、薬師堂だけがあるにすぎない。五重塔は1440年（永享12）の建造で、飛鳥(あすか)時代の礎石の上に建ち、世に八坂塔と称し、東山の象徴となっている。寺宝の紙本着色八坂塔絵図は国の重要文化財。

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