Gourt Home::Gourt :: Saihō-ji
is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple located in Matsuo, Nishikyō Ward, Kyoto, Japan. The temple, which is famed for its moss garden, is commonly referred to as , meaning "moss temple", and is also known as . The temple, primarily constructed to honor Amitabha, was first founded by Gyōki, and was later restored by Musō Soseki. Saihō-ji is part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History
According to temple legend, Saihō-ji was constructed during the Nara Period by Gyōki, on the location of one of Prince Shōtoku's former retreats. The temple first operated as a Hossō temple dedicated to Amitabha, and was known as , a homophone of the current name. The name was selected because Amitabha is the primary buddha of Western Paradise, known in Japanese as . Legend states that such famous Japanese monks as Kūkai and Hōnen later served as the chief priests of the temple. Although the veracity of these legends is questionable, it is believed that such a predecessor to the current temple did, in fact, exist.
Over time, the temple fell into disrepair, and in 1339, the chief priest of the nearby Matsunoo Shrine, Fujiwara Chikahide, summoned the famous Japanese gardener Musō Soseki to help him revive Saihō-ji as a Zen temple. At this time, Musō decided to change the temple's name, to reflect its new Zen orientation. The temple became , the name being selected not only because it was a homophone of the original name, but also because the kanji were used in phrases related to Bodhidharma: and .
Saihō-ji was destroyed by fire during the Ōnin War, and twice ravaged by floods during the Edo Period, but has since been rebuilt.
Layout
The famous moss garden of Saihō-ji, is situated in the eastern temple grounds. Located in a grove, the garden is arranged as a circular promenade, centered around . The pond contains three small islands: , and . The area around the pond is said to be covered with more than 100 varieties of moss, believed to have started growing after the flooding of the temple grounds in the Edo Period.
The garden itself contains three tea houses: , , and , which were partially inspired by phrases from the Chan work Biyan Lu.
- Shōnan-tei was originally built during the 14th century, but was subsequently destroyed. It was later restored by Sen no Shōan. Iwakura Tomomi was famously sheltered here towards the end of the Edo Period. Shōnan-tei is registered as an important cultural property.
- Shōan-dō was constructed in 1920, and contains a wooden image of Sen no Shōan, after whom the teahouse was named.
- Tanhoku-tei was donated to the temple in 1928 by potter Zōroku Mashimizu.
The eastern temple grounds also contains the main temple hall, the study, and a three-storied pagoda.
- The main hall of the temple, known as , was reconstructed in 1969, and it was in this year that the current image of Amitabha was enshrined. The paintings on the sliding doors are the work of Inshō Dōmoto.
- The three-storied pagoda was erected in 1978, and is used to store copies of sutras, written by Rinzai adherents. The pagoda was constructed to honor Bhaisajyaguru.
The northern temple grounds contains a Zen rock garden, and a temple hall known as . The arrangement of stones in the rock garden is said to be demonstrative of Musō's creative genius.
The gardens of Saihō-ji are collectively considered to be both a historical landmark and a "special place of scenic beauty" in Japan.
Other significant items within the temple grounds include a stone monument engraved with a Kyoshi Takahama haiku, and another stone monument, engraved with some of the writings of Jirō Osaragi. A portrait of Musō Soseki is considered to be a important cultural property.
Tourism
Until 1977, the temple was open to admission by the general public, but currently, visitors are admitted only by prior application (by return postcard), and the fee to visit the temple (¥3,000) is the highest in Kyoto. Before being permitted access to the garden, visitors must engage in up to two hours of zazen and the hand-copying or chanting of sutras. It is said that these regulations were put into place in order to protect the delicate moss from the hordes of tourists that plagued the temple prior to 1977.
References
Much of the content of this article comes from the equivalent Japanese-language article, accessed on July 1, 2006.
"Saihō-ji"