Ninna-ji

Ninna-ji
仁和寺
kondo-dō (Main Hall)
Ninna-ji is located in Kyoto Prefecture
Ninna-ji
Location within Kyoto Prefecture
Ninna-ji is located in Japan
Ninna-ji
Location within Japan
Religion
AffiliationBuddhist
DeityAmida Nyorai (Amitābha)
RiteShingon-shu Omuro-ha
Statusfunctional
Location
Location1 33 Ōuchi Omuro, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu
CountryJapan Japan
Coordinates{35°01′51.8″N 135°42′49.7″E / 35.031056°N 135.713806°E / 35.031056; 135.713806
Architecture
FounderEmperor Uda
Completed888
TypeCultural
Criteria(ii), (iv)
Designated1994
Reference no.688
Website
https://ninnaji.jp/
Shinden's North Garden
Shinden's South Garden

Ninna-ji (仁和寺, Ninna-ji) is the head temple of the Omuro school of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism. Located in western Kyoto, Japan, it was first founded in AD 888 by Emperor Uda, and was later reconstructed in the 17th century. It is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ninna-ji was a monzeki temple with deep ties to the Imperial family and was called the "Omuro Gosho" (Omuro Imperial Palace) until the Meiji Restoration. It is also a famous sakura viewing location in spring, attracting many visitors. The temple is also the head temple of the Omuro-ryu school of ikebana (flower arrangement), which was founded by Emperor Uda. The Omuro Cherry Blossoms and the Ninna-ji Imperial Palace Gardens are nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty and the site of the Ninna-ji Imperial Palace is a National Historic Site.

History

Construction of Ninna-ji began in the early Heian period, in 886, at the behest of Emperor Kōkō. However, Emperor Kōkō died the following year before the temple was completed, and it was completed during the reign of his son, Emperor Uda, in 888. Initially called "Nishiyama Goganji" (西山御願寺) it was later renamed Ninna-ji after the era name. The first head priest was Yūsen of the Tendai sect. However, in October 899, Emperor Uda became a monk at this temple and following November, he converted to the Shingon sect at Tō-ji Upon his conversion, the head priest of Ninna-ji was replaced by Kanken of the Shingon sect, and the temple has remained Shingon to this day. In 904, the retired emperor built a monks' quarters called "Omuro" southwest of the temple grounds and began residing there. Subsequently, the temple's abbots were descendants of Emperor Uda. In April 952, Emperor Suzaku moved to the temple and died here in August of the same year.

Prince Shōshin, a son of Emperor Sanjō, was appointed to the newly created position of Kengyō, above the abbot. From this point onward, Ninna-ji came to be regarded as a temple for the sons of the imperial family. Only two individuals who were not of imperial lineage became abbots of Ninna-ji: Hōsuke, son of Kujō Michiie, and Hōson, son of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.

In 1010, the Kannon-in Kanjo-dō was built at the request of Minamoto no Rinshi, wife of Fujiwara no Michinaga. In April 1119, the main hall, east and west corridors, bell tower, sutra repository, three-sided monks' quarters, Kannon-in, and Kankō-in were destroyed by fire. However, the main hall was quickly rebuilt in December, and Kannon-in and Kankō-in were also rebuilt in 1122. In 1144, the Kujaku Myōō-dō (Peacock King Hall) was built at the behest of Emperor Toba. During the Muromachi period, the temple declined somewhat, but when the Ōnin War (1467-1477) broke out, it was burned down by the Eastern Army's soldiers, and completely destroyed. However, before the damage occurred, the principal image, an Amida Triad, and other items had been moved to Shinkō-in, a temple affiliated with the main hall, and thus escaped destruction. After this, the temple, along with its principal image, moved its base to Saihō-ji, located at the western foot of Futago-oka.

In 1591, the temple received a land grant of 860 koku from Toyotomi Hideyoshi and then in 1617, it received another grant of 1,500 koku from Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada.

According to the "Ninna-ji Goden" (Biography of Ninna-ji), on July 24, 1634, the 21st abbot of Ninna-ji, Prince Kakushin (the eldest son of Emperor Go-Yōzei), requested the reconstruction of Ninna-ji from Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, who was in Kyoto at the time, and was granted the request. Furthermore, during the Kan'ei era (1624-1645), the reconstruction of the Kyoto Imperial Palace led to the bestowal of the Shishinden (present-day Kondō), Seiryoden (present-day Mikage-do), and Jōgoten from the Imperial Palace being relocated to the temple grounds. The reconstruction of the temple complex was finally completed in 1646. In 1867, the 30th abbot, Prince Junnin, renounced his monastic vows and became Prince Komatsu. This marked the end of the temple's history as a monzeki temple. Furthermore, in 1887, the Shishinden (main hall) and other palace buildings were destroyed by fire, but they were rebuilt in 1914.

Following January 20, 1945, when Japan's defeat in the Pacific War became increasingly likely, former Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe visited the temple several times to discuss the possibility of Emperor Hirohito abdicating and become a monk at Ninna-ji. The kanji characters on the plaque "Reimeiden" displayed in the Reimeiden Hall are said to be the last calligraphy Konoe wrote during his visit to the temple.

Most of the surviving buildings of Nanna-ji date from the 17th century, and include a five-story pagoda and an orchard of late blooming dwarf cherry trees called the Omuro cherry trees that would grow to around 2–3 meters (10 feet) in height. The temple itself features some beautifully painted screen walls, and a beautiful walled garden.

Cultural Properties

National Treasures

Important Cultural Properties

Structures

Fourteen structure of Ninna-ji are designated as National Important Cultural Properties.

    • 5-story Pagoda (五重塔), Edo Period (1644), height = 36.18 meters
    • Kannon-dō (観音堂), Edo Period (1641 to 1645).
    • Chūmon (中門), Edo Period (1641 to 1645).
    • Kyōzō (経蔵), Edo Period (1641 to 1645), Built in the Zen Buddhist style, this revolving sutra repository houses a total of 768 sutra boxes.
    • Niō-mon (二王門), Edo Period (1641 to 1645).
    • Shōrō (鐘楼), Edo Period (1641 to 1645).
    • Miei-dō (御影堂), Edo Period (1641 to 1645). Constructed using materials from the Seiryo-den Hall of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, which was built in 1613, it enshrines statues of the sect's founder, Kōbō Daishi, the temple's founder, Emperor Uda, and Prince Shoshin, the second head priest of Ninna-ji.
    • Miei-dō Chūmon (御影堂中門), Edo Period (1641 to 1645).
    • Honbō Omotemon (本坊表門), Edo Period (1641 to 1645).
    • Ryōkaku-tei (遼廓亭), Edo Period (1661-1750). A chashitsu relocated from the residence of the Edo period painter Ogata Kōrin between 1661 and 1750. It is considered unusual for having a wing wall under the sloping roof and a crawl-through entrance opening inside.
    • Hitō-tei (飛濤亭), Edo Period (1830-1867). A chashitsu built for Emperor Kōkaku with a high entrance with a lintel so that guests could enter without having to bend down.
    • Kyūsho-myōjin (九所明神), Edo Period (1641-1645). A Shinto shrine protecting the temple grounds of Ninna-ji. Originally located south of the temple grounds, it was moved to its current location in 1212. It consists of the Honden (center), for worship of the kami of Iwashimizu Hachiman-gu, the Left Sanctuary for worship of the kami of the Kamo shrines and the Right Sanctuary for the worship of the kami of Matsunoo Taisha, Hirano Shrine and others.

Statuary

Paintings

Crafts

Documents

Archaeological materials, historical materials

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ninna-ji Temple. Kyoto, Japan: Benrido Co., Ltd. 2009. p. 1.
  2. ↑ Clancy, Judith (February 2020). Kyoto : city of Zen : visiting the heritage sites of Japan's ancient capital. ISBN 978-4-8053-1540-8. OCLC 1083704023.
  3. ↑ "御室（サクラ）" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  4. ↑ "仁和寺御所庭園" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  5. ↑ "仁和寺御所跡" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  6. ↑ Ponsonby-Fane, Richard (1956). Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794-1869. University of Virginia: Ponsonby Memorial Society. p. 112. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  7. ↑ "Ninna-ji Temple - Kyoto Travel Guide | Planetyze". Planetyze. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
  8. ↑ "仁和寺金堂" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  9. ↑ "木造阿弥陀如来及両脇侍像（金堂安置）" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  10. ↑ "木造薬師如来坐像〈円勢、長円作／（北院旧本尊>）" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  11. ↑ "絹本著色孔雀明王像" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  12. ↑ "宝相華蒔絵宝珠箱" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  13. ↑ "三十帖冊子" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  14. ↑ "宝相華迦陵頻伽蒔絵〓冊子箱" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  15. ↑ "御室相承記" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  16. ↑ "高倉天皇宸翰御消息（十一月十三日）" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  17. ↑ "後嵯峨天皇宸翰御消息（四月十五日）" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  18. ↑ "黄帝内経明堂巻第一" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  19. ↑ "黄帝内経太素" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  20. ↑ "医心方〈第一、第五、第七／第九、第十残巻〉" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  21. ↑ "新修本草 巻第四、第五、第十二、第十七、第十九 5巻" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  22. ↑ "仁和寺五重塔" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  23. ↑ "仁和寺観音堂" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  24. ↑ "仁和寺中門" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  25. ↑ "仁和寺経蔵" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  26. ↑ "仁和寺二王門" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  27. ↑ "仁和寺鐘楼" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  28. ↑ "仁和寺御影堂" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  29. ↑ "仁和寺御影堂中門" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  30. ↑ "仁和寺本坊表門" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  31. ↑ "遼廓亭" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  32. ↑ "遼廓亭" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  33. ↑ "九所明神本殿 （中殿）" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  34. ↑ "九所明神本殿　（左殿）" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  35. ↑ "九所明神本殿　（右殿）" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.

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