|
|
Danjo Garan |
About 1200 years ago, Kobo Daishi Kukai, who has studied in China as one of the envoys in the Tang Dynasty and received the teachings of Shingon esoteric Buddhism from Keika Ajari of Seiryu-ji Temple, asked Emperor Saga in 816 to acquire the land of Koya which is very far from the capital. And he started building temples as training schools of Shingon esoteric Buddhism aiming at the relief of people and protection of the country.
Even after the entrance of Kukai into Koyasan, wide range of people, for example, royalty and aristocracy, warriors, and ordinary people who believed Kobo Daishi pilgrimed and many tombstones of Okuno-in Hall were built there. Since then, Koyasan was prospered not only as a town of esoteric Buddhism but also as a town of mountain religion contains varieties of religion such as Pure Land Buddhism, Shugendo, Shinto, unprecedented in the world. Even today, 117 temples including Kongobu-ji Temple, the head temple, are practicing the religions and traditional events since its foundation.
1.Niutsuhime Shrine
This old shrine has beautiful vermilion colored arched bridge over Kagami Ike(Mirror Pond) in the precincts. It was originated in 370, when Niutsuhime, a younger sister of Goddess of the Sun, was enshrined. Also, Koya-daijin, who is said to have lead Kukai to Koya is enshrined. Four pavilions and the tower gate are designated as the important cultural assets of Japan.
>Area Information
2.Precincts of Kongobu-ji Temple
Since its establishment in 816, it has been worshipped as a basic school of Shingon esoteric Buddhism. Still, there are 117 tightly-packed temples on Koyasan, the mountain religious city which has about 1200-year religious mountain history is consisted of 6 quarters such as "Garan area", "Okuno-in area", "Daimon area", "Kongo-sanmai-in area", "Tokugawa Family Reidai area", and "Honzan area".
>Area Information
3.Garan area
In this area, there stands magnificent "Konpon-daito", "Kondo", "Fudo-do" which is the oldest building in Koyasan and national treasure, and "Miei-do" with beautiful exquisite roofline. It is regarded as two major sacred sites parallel to Okuno-in Hall.
>Area Information
4.Okuno-in area
There is Gobyo of originator, Kobo Daishi, in this area and is regarded as sacred site of Koyasan. Along the approximately 2km pilgrimage route, some hundred year-old cedars are standing in a row, creating solemn atmosphere. Along both sides of the pilgrimage route, tombstones and stone towers of famous historical figures like Oda Nobunaga, Uesugi Kenshin, etc are standing in a row. The number surpasses 200,000 and is said to be the most in the world.
>Area Information
5.Daimon area
Daimon is the Somon gate of Ichiyama, Koyasan. The ancient Koya-choishimichi was the front approach lead to it. Present Daimon was rebuilt in 1705, and has a gate of about 25 meters high, with guardians statues created by Hokyo Uncho at both sides of the gate.
>Area Information
6.Kongo-sanmai-in area
This temple was endowed and built by Hojo Masako, nunnish shogun, in 1211 and 1223 to hold a memorial service of Minamotono Yoritomo, her husband and shogun, and Sanetomo, her son. The Taho pagoda of Kongo-sanmai-in is the oldest of Koyasan, birthplace of Taho pagoda. It has a height of 14.9m, and is excellent in architectural design adopting Indian Stupa. It is precious as one of the representatives of Japanese mid-age Taho pagoda.
>Area Information
7.Tokugawa Family Reidai area
It is a representative Reibyo building in the beginning of Edo era, said to be built by Iemitsu, the third shogun of Tokugawa, for 20 years from 1624. The holy houses enshrining the spirit of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hidetada, the second shogun of Tokugawa Family,are the same buildings of Hitoe Hogyo-Tsukuri standing side by side using many black lacquers, sculptures, ornament clips.
>Area Information
8.Honzan area
This area covers the former compound of "Kozan-ji Temple", built in 1590 for Scholar Monk and "Seigan-ji Temple", established in 1592 as the temple to govern all Koyasan. Today, the main temple office of Kongobu-ji Temple, the general head temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism is located there, and is serving the central roll of religious affairs. This area consists the largest wooden architectural group in Koyasan.
>Area Information
9.Jison-in Temple
This temple was established in 9th century, located at the beginning of the pilgrimage route "Koyasan-choishi-michi" leading to the top, and has been worshipped by pilgrims where they temporarily stayed. In the precincts, some pagodas stand with Maitreya house as the center of them. Jison-ij Maitreya house is the main hall of Jison-in Temple, ensconcing sedentary image of Maitreya, the principal image. The existing architecture was rebuilt in 14th century, and was refurbished in 1540.
>Area Information
10.Niukanshoubu Shrine
This shrine at first enshrined Niu/Koya myojin as the tutelary deity of Kanshobusho, the manor of Kongobu-ji Temple, afterwards, it added two gods of Itsukushima and Kehi to worship four Myojin consequently. Until the order of the separation of Shinto and Buddhism in 19th century, there were some Buddhist pavilions in the precincts, winning the worship among people with adjacent Jison-in Temple. The first hall enshrining Niu/Koya-myojin and the second hall enshrining Kehi-myojin were rebuilt in 1517, the third hall enshrining Itsukushima-myojin, in 1541.
>Area Information
|
Sacred Site "Koyasan"