Kōzan-ji facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kōzan-ji高山寺 |
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Path to the Golden Hall
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Shingon Buddhism |
| Deity | Shaka Nyorai (Śākyamuni) |
| Location | |
| Location | 8 Umegahata Toganō-chō, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Country | Japan |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Emperor Kōnin |
| Completed | 774 |
| Website | |
| http://www.kosanji.com/ | |
Kōzan-ji (高山寺), officially Toganōsan Kōsan-ji (栂尾山高山寺), is a famous Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Omuro sect of Shingon Buddhism. People also call it Kōsan-ji or Toganō-dera. A very smart monk named Myōe (1173–1232) started the temple.
Kōzan-ji is well-known for its many amazing National Treasures and important cultural items. One of its most famous treasures is the Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga. These are old ink drawings from the 12th and 13th centuries. In 1994, Kōzan-ji became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it's a place of great importance to the whole world.
Contents
History of Kōzan-ji Temple
The area where Kōzan-ji stands is called Togano. It is deep in the mountains behind Jingo-ji temple. This spot is famous for its beautiful autumn leaves. It was also seen as a perfect place for monks to train in the mountains. For a long time, many small temples were located here.
In 1206, a Buddhist priest named Myōe was given this land. He was serving at the nearby Jingo-ji temple. Emperor Go-Toba gave him the land to build a new temple. Myōe chose a special name for it: Hiidetemazukousanwoterasuyama-no-tera (日出先照高山之寺).
The temple's name comes from an old Buddhist teaching. It means: "When the sun appears, it first casts its light upon the highest mountain." This name shows the temple's deep connection to nature and spiritual learning.
Over the years, Kōzan-ji has been damaged many times by fires and wars. The oldest building still standing today is called Sekisui-in (石水院). It was built a very long time ago, during the Kamakura period (1185–1333).
Exploring Kōzan-ji's Layout
We know a lot about how Kōzan-ji looked in the past. A drawing from 1230 shows the temple's original design. This drawing is considered an important cultural item. It tells us that Kōzan-ji once had a big gate, a main hall, and a three-story pagoda. There were also halls for different Buddhist figures and a bell tower.
Most of these original buildings were destroyed over time. Only the scripture hall, now known as Sekisui-in, remains from that early period.
Today, Kōzan-ji also has a main hall. This hall was originally part of another temple, Ninna-ji, and was moved here. There is also a hall dedicated to Myōe, the monk who founded the temple. This hall holds an important wooden statue of Myōe. However, these two buildings are newer versions, rebuilt after the older ones were lost.
Amazing Treasures of Kōzan-ji
Kōzan-ji is home to many incredible National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. These are very old and precious items. Most of them are kept safe in national museums in Kyoto and Tokyo.
National Treasures to See
- Sekisui-in: This is the oldest building at Kōzan-ji. It was built during the Kamakura period. It has a special roof style called Irimoyazukuri.
- Chōjū-giga: These are famous picture scrolls. They are often called "Scrolls of Frolicking Animals." They show animals like rabbits, monkeys, and frogs acting like humans. Some people call them the first Japanese cartoons!
- Kegon-shū Soshi Eden (華厳宗祖師絵伝): This is a picture scroll from the Kamakura period. It tells the life stories of two important Korean monks, Uisang and Wonhyo. They helped start the Kegon Buddhist group.
- Myōe Shōnin-zō (明恵上人像): This is a portrait of Myōe, the temple's founder. It's also known as Jujō Zazen-zō (樹上座禅像). What's unique is that it shows a tiny Myōe sitting among huge mountains.
- Butsugen Butsumo-zō (仏眼仏母像): This is a portrait from the Kamakura period, created in the late 12th century.
- Yupian (玉篇, gyokuhen): This is a very old copy of a Chinese dictionary. It was made during the Tang period in China. It is the oldest Chinese character dictionary found in Japan.
- Tenrei Banshō Meigi (篆隷万象名義): This is the only remaining copy of an old Chinese character dictionary. It was put together by the famous monk Kūkai. This copy was made in 1114.
- Meihō-ki (冥報記): This is an old manuscript from the Tang period in China. It contains Buddhist stories. This copy is the oldest one still existing, as the original has disappeared from China.
Other Important Cultural Items
Many other buildings, picture scrolls, statues, and old writings are also important cultural properties. Here are a few interesting ones:
- Founders Hall (Kaizandō): This hall is dedicated to the temple's founder, Myōe.
- Wooden Deer Statues: These are a pair of wooden statues of a male and female deer. They were made in the Kamakura period. They look like komainu, which are lion statues that guard Shinto shrines. Deer are special messengers for Kasuga Myōjin, a temple god. So, these statues were likely placed near the god's altar.
- Statue of Byakkoshin: This is a standing statue from the early Kamakura period. It is painted completely white, from its clothes to its base. This white color is said to represent the snow of the Himalayas.
- Statue of Zenmyōshin: This wooden statue was also made in the early Kamakura period. Much of its bright paint is still visible. Both this statue and the Byakkōshin statue are believed to be the work of a famous Buddhist sculptor named Tankei.
- Kōzan-ji Document Archive: This is a huge collection of thousands of old scriptures and records. Some of these documents date back to the Heian period, making them very old and valuable.
- Kōben Yume-no-Ki (高弁夢記): This is a special record of Myōe's dreams from 1196 to 1223. People believe his dreams greatly influenced his religious ideas and teachings.
See also
- Jingo-ji
- Kōsan-ji
- List of National Treasures of Japan (temples)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (paintings)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (writings)
