Yoshimine-dera

Yoshimine-dera
善峯寺
Yoshimine-dera Sanmon
Religion
Affiliation	Buddhist
Deity	Jūichimen Kannon
Rite	Tendai
Status	functional
Location
Location	1372 Oharano Oshio-cho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu
Shown within Kyoto Prefecture Show map of Kyoto Prefecture Yoshimine-dera (Japan) Show map of Japan
Geographic coordinates	34°56′17.4″N135°38′39.1″E / 34.938167°N 135.644194°E / 34.938167; 135.644194
Architecture
Founder	c.Gensan, Emperor Mommu
Completed	c.1029
Website
Official website
National Important Cultural Property

from the picture album "Kannon Reigen ki"

Yoshimine-dera (善峯寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the Ōharano neighborhood of Nishikyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism and its honzon are two hibutsu statues of Jūichimen Kannon. ^[1] The temple's full name is Nishiyama Yoshimine-dera (西山 善峯寺). The temple grounds are located on Yoshimine, a northeastern branch of Mount Shaka (630.8 meters above sea level), near the southwestern edge of Kyoto City. Numerous buildings are scattered across the mountainside. The temple is the 20th stop on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

Overview

The origin of the temple is uncertain. According to the "Zenpo-ji Engi Emaki" (Edo period) handed down at the temple, the temple was founded in 1029 at the age of 47 when Gensan, a disciple of Genshin, entered the mountain and built a small chapel, enshrining a Jūichimen Kannon statue he had made as the principal image. Later, in 1034, Emperor Go-Ichijō designated the temple as a place of imperial prayer and bestowed the name "Ryōhō-ji" (良峯寺). In 1042, Emperor Go-Suzaku ordered the transfer of a Jūichimen Kannon statue made by Ninkō-hoshi, from a temple called Washiō-ji in the Kyoto to the temple as its new principal image. Emperor Shirakawa also donated the Hondō, Amida-dō, Yakushi-dō, Jizo-dō, three-story pagoda, Shōrō bell tower, Niōmon Gate, and Chinjū-sha shrine buildings. In 1192, during the early Kamakura period, Jien lived here, and the temple was given a plaque with the name "Zenpō-ji" (善峯寺) written by Emperor Go-Toba, and the temple's name was changed accordingly. After Shōkū, a disciple of Hōnen served as the chief priest, many princes entered the temple, some relocating from Shōren-in, and the temple became a monzeki establishment, known as the "Nishiyama Monzeki" (西山門跡). ^[7]

The temple was revered by members of the imperial family, including Emperor Go-Saga and Emperor Go-Fukakusa, and the temple buildings were renovated with a donation from Emperor Go-Hanazono. At one point, the number of monks' quarters reached 52 during the Muromachi period. However, during the Ōnin War of 1467-1477, much of the temple was burned down. During the Edo period, Keishōin, the mother of the fifth shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, became a major patron, and the temple was rebuilt.

Notable features include the "Gliding Dragon" pine tree (Yōryu no matsu, a natural monument), which was trained to grow horizontally and was once over 50 meters long, ^[8]

• 
  Tahōtō (ICP)
• 
  Sanmon
• 
  Amida-dō
• 
  Kannon-dō
• 
  Crowned Amida

The temple is approximately 7 kilometers or 17 minutes by car from Nagaoka-Tenjin Station on the JR West Hankyu Railway.

Cultural Properties

National Important Cultural Properties

• Tahōtō (多宝塔), Edo period (1621) ^[9]
• {{nihongo|Colored silk painting of Daigensui-Myōō |絹本著色大元帥明王像|}|}, Kamakura period ^[10]

Kyoto Prefectural Designated Tangible Cultural Properties

• Yoshimine-dera Pilgrimage Mandala (善峰寺参詣曼荼羅), Edo period; ^[11]
• Sankō-ji Pilgrimage Mandala (三鈷寺参詣曼荼羅), Edo period; ^[11]
• Hondo (本堂), Edo period; ^[12]
• Yakushi-dō (薬師堂), Edo period; ^[12]
• Amida-dō (阿弥陀堂), Edo period; ^[12]
• Kyō-dō (経堂), Edo period; ^[12]
• Kaisan-dō (開山堂), Edo period; ^[12]
• Goma-dō (護摩堂), Edo period; ^[12]
• Shōrō (鐘楼), Edo period; ^[12]
• Sanmon (山門), Edo period; ^[12]
• Chiju-dō (鎮守堂[), 3 structures, Edo period; ^[12]
• Hōkyōintō (鎮守堂[), Kamakura period; ^[12]

References

1. "善峯寺" [Yoshimine-dera]. Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC   56431036. Archived from the original on August 25, 2007. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
2. Yuichi Kobayashi (2020). 坂東三十三ヶ所札所めぐり 観音霊場巡礼ルートガイド. Meitsu shuppan. ISBN   4780426049.
3. Kodansha editorial staff (2008). 西国三十三所札所会. Kodansha. ISBN   978-4062147477.
4. Tetsutaro Gosou (2017). 西国巡礼ー三十三所の歴史と現代の意義. Denki Joho-sha. ISBN   4924513105.
5. Akira Nagata (2015). 西国三十三所めぐり. JTB Publishing. ISBN   4533107222.
6. Saikoku Fuda-sho Association (1987). 西国三十三所観音巡礼: 法話と札所案内. Toki Shobo. ISBN   4886020909.
7. "善峯寺" [Yoshimine-dera]. Dijitaru Daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC   56431036. Archived from the original on August 25, 2007. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
8. Marc Treib and Ron Herman, A Guide to the Gardens of Kyoto (Revised Edition), Kodansha International, 2003, ISBN   9784770029539, page 118
9. "善峰寺多宝塔" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
10. "絹本著色大元帥明王像" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
11. "美術工芸品（絵画・彫刻・工芸品・書籍典籍・古文書・考古資料・歴史資料）【指定・登録】" (in Japanese). Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
12. "建造物【指定・登録】" (in Japanese). Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education. Retrieved 20 August 2020.

External links

 Media related to Yoshimine-dera at Wikimedia Commons

• Saigoku Pilgrimage official site (in Japanese)