rogo  
 
 
 
About 10 min. from ROHM by car
  We can see our breath, but even so, the grounds of Toji Temple are bustling with activity during the Shimai Kobo Market, which falls on the 21st of December, a day closely associated with Kobo Daishi Kukai. Toji Temple, also known as Kyo-o-gokoku-ji Temple, is the head temple of the Shingon Buddhist sect.
When Emperor Kanmu transferred the capital to Heiankyo in Kyoto, the Rajomon Gate, which was the model for the gate Rashomon in the famous novel of the same name by Akutagawa Ryunosuke, was built as the entrance to the city. Two National Temples were also constructed, on the west and east sides of the gate. Toji Temple (‘The Eastern Temple’) was built on the east side, and it has been a part of life in Kyoto for more than 1,200 years, since its founding in 796 AD. As remnants of the old building are a unique reminder of the Heian Period, the temple was designated a world heritage site in 1994. Saiji Temple (‘The Western Temple’) was built on the west side of the gate, but the temple burnt to the ground later and only the ancient site remains today.
In 823 AD, Toji Temple was granted to Kobo Daishi by the Emperor Saga, and it became the first temple of the esoteric Shingon sect in Japan. Later known as Odaishi's Temple, the many people worshipping there represented a cross-section of society, from the members of the Imperial Family to commoners.
The main buildings of the temple complex were almost all lost in a fire in 1486, but with support from the Toyotomi and Tokugawa clans, the main Kondo Hall and the five-storied pagoda were reconstructed. None of the original buildings remain today, but the straight-line garanhaichi arrangement and scale of the structures still standing, including the Nandaimon Gate, the main Kondo Hall, the Kodo Hall, and the Jikido Hall, retain the feeling of the Heian Period.
The temple is a treasure house of esoteric artwork, and many of the countless statues and paintings on the temple grounds have been designated as national treasures or important cultural properties. In particular, five of the structures are listed as national treasures; the Kondo Hall, the five-storied pagoda, the Rengemon Gate, the Miedo Hall, and the Kanchi-in Hall
Even today, the sight of Toji Temple bustling with large crowds at the end of the year, is a familiar winter scene in Kyoto.
   
Toji Temple
Toji Temple
Five-storied Pagoda
Five-storied Pagoda
Hyotan-ike Pond   Saiji Temple site   Rajomon site
Hyotan-ike Pond   Saiji Temple site   Rajomon site

Map of Toji Temple and the grounds Map of the Toji Temple area

  Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Copyright © 1997- ROHM Co., Ltd.