Hello everyone, this is Staff N.
I’m in trouble because my PC isn’t working well, maybe because of the temperature difference.
May is already over.
I still remember the Kyoto I went to at the beginning of the month.
This time, I investigated the five-storied pagoda of Hokanji Temple.
Hokanji is a temple of the Rinzai sect Kenninji school located in Yasaka Kamimachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. It is located near Kiyomizu Temple. The five-storied pagoda that rises in the city is commonly known as the “Yasaka Tower” and is a landmark in the surrounding area. Since the precincts are narrow and there are no outstanding buildings other than the tower, “Yasaka Tower” is also known as the temple itself.
According to folklore, the five-storied pagoda was built by Prince Shotoku in the 5th year of Emperor Sushun (592) according to the dream of Nyoirin Kannon.
The theory of the opening of Prince Shotoku can be found in “Higashiyama Hokan-ji Buddhist stupa in Yamashiro” (1338). Although the folklore of the founding of Prince Shotoku is doubtful, it is certain that it is an old temple that existed before the relocation of Heiankyo, and it is believed that it was built as a temple of the Korean Peninsula Toraijin, Yasaka. Seems to be influential. The style of the tiles excavated from the precincts suggests that the building dates back to the 7th century. The existing five-storied pagoda was rebuilt in the 15th century, but it was built on the site of the tower at the time of its construction, and the underground foundation stone (foundation stone of the pillar) peculiar to ancient temples remains. The temple name was originally called Yasakaji, and the first appearance in the literature of Yasakaji is said to be in the 4th year of Jōwa (837) in “Shoku Nihon Koki”.
In “Engi-shiki”, Yasaka-ji is one of the seven temples that receive offerings from the Daizen profession. The five-storied pagoda was burnt down in the 3rd year of the Jisho era (1179) at the end of the Heian period due to a conflict between Kiyomizu-dera and Gion Shrine (Yasaka Shrine), but was rebuilt in 1191 with the assistance of Minamoto no Yoritomo. it was done. After that, it was burnt down by a lightning strike in 1291, and was rebuilt in 1309 with the assistance of Emperor Go-Uda. The current tower was reconstructed in 1440 with the assistance of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori after it was burnt down in Eikyo 8 (1436).
Meanwhile, in the first year of Niji (1240), Kennin-ji VIII’s Kennin-ji Temple entered the temple and became a Zen temple belonging to the Rinzai sect Kennin-ji school. Furthermore, from the first year of the calendar (1338), Takauji Ashikaga built Ankoku-ji Temple and Risei Tower all over the country at the recommendation of Muso Soseki.
During the Warring States period, a daimyo from a rural area raised a flag with a fixed crest on the temple to let the world know who became the new ruler and heavenly man. Also, Mitsuyoshi Oshima shot ten arrows into the window of this tower at the behest of Hidetsugu Toyotomi.
The Yasaka Pagoda is the only five-storied pagoda designated as an important cultural property in Japan that can be entered inside and can be climbed up to the second floor of the pagoda by ordinary people. However, the exhibition is irregular (only on the days that are convenient for the temple staff), and the opening time of 10:00 –15:00 may be closed early due to the weather and the convenience of the temple staff. Open days are concentrated on weekends during the season, but even on weekends during the season, it is often absent in bad weather, and sometimes it is a holiday on a sunny weekend, so it seems that there is no “day when you can always see the inside”. In rare cases, it may be open on weekdays, so if you want to make sure to see it, you need to confirm by phone in advance.
When you enter the inside of the tower, you can see Buddha statues, mural paintings, cornerstones, and pillars. If you climb the steep stairs to the second floor, you can see the cityscape through the window. However, it seems that there are not so many paying visitors because the precincts can be seen from Yasaka-dori, which passes by. Also, because the stairs inside the tower are steep and dangerous, you cannot see them under junior high school students. Partly because of the rest of the day in bad weather and the increased likelihood of slipping on the stairs with wet shoes. If you look at the old photos, you can see that the wire mesh is on the top layer and the viewer can climb to the top layer.
I didn’t climb the Yasaka Tower because I could see it from anywhere during this sightseeing.
When I looked it up this time, I regret that I should have climbed it.
At dusk, cameramen gathered one after another, so I mixed in and took pictures.
The five-storied pagoda from various angles has a different taste and is beautiful.
When you come into contact with the lives of old people, you will become more and more interested in antique art.
See you soon