Ninna-ji
Ninna-ji (仁和寺, Ninna-ji) is the head temple of the Omuro school of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism.[1] Located in western Kyoto, Japan, it was first founded in AD 888 by Emperor Uda, and was later reconstructed in the 17th century.[2] It is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
| Ninna-ji | |
|---|---|
Golden Hall (Main Hall) | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Omuro School of Shingon Buddhism |
| Deity | Amida Nyorai (Amitābha) |
| Location | |
| Location | 33 Ōuchi Omuro, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Country | Japan |
| Geographic coordinates | 35°01′52″N 135°42′50″E / 35.0310°N 135.7138°E |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Emperor Uda |
| Date established | 888 |
| Completed | 1644 (Reconstruction) |
| Website | |
| https://ninnaji.jp/ | |
History edit
Ninna-ji was founded in the early Heian period. In 886, Emperor Kōkō ordered the construction of the Nishiyama Goganji Temple to bless the nation and propagate Buddhist teachings, but he did not live to see its completion. Emperor Uda saw the construction to its completion in 888[3] and named it "Ninna" after the regnal year of the late Emperor Kōkō's reign. From 888 to 1869 it was traditional for reigning Emperors to send a son to the temple to take over as head priest when a vacancy arose.
After retiring from his throne, Emperor Uda became the first Monzeki, or aristocratic priest, of Ninna-ji. From then on until the end of the Edo period, the temple saw a succession of head priests of imperial lineage.
In 1467, the temple was destroyed by fire and fighting in the Ōnin War. It was rebuilt roughly 150 year later, thanks to the eldest son of Emperor Go-Yōzei, Kakushin Hosshinnō, who enlisted the help of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate. The resurrection coincided with the rebuilding of the Imperial Palace in Kyoto and thus received imperial funding.
The tradition of having aristocratic or persons of imperial lineage serve as chief of the temple ended with the 30th Monzeki, Junnin Hosshinnō in the late Edo period.
Most of the surviving buildings 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.[4] The temple itself features some beautifully painted screen walls, and a beautiful walled garden.
Buildings edit
- National Treasure of Japan
- Golden Hall
- Important Cultural Property of Japan
- Pagoda
- Kyōzō
- Niōmon
- Chūmon
- Shōrō
- Kannon-dō
- Miei-dō
- Chūmon of Miei-dō
- Kyūsho-myōjin
- Omotemon of Honbō
- Ryōkaku-tei
- Hitō-tei
- Other
- Chokushimon
- Shinden
- Reimeiden
- Kuro Shoin
- Shiro Shoin
- Pagoda
- Kyōzō
- Miei-dō
- Kyūsho-myōjin
- Interior of Shinden
-
See also edit
- List of Buddhist temples in Kyoto
- List of National Treasures of Japan (temples)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (ancient documents)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (paintings)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (sculptures)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (crafts-others)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (writings)
- Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Kyoto
- For an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture, see the Glossary of Japanese Buddhism.
External links edit
- Ninna-ji official website
- Photos of Ninna-ji
References edit
- ^ Ninna-ji Temple. Kyoto, Japan: Benrido Co., Ltd. 2009. p. 1.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ponsonby-Fane, Richard (1956). Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794-1869. University of Virginia: Ponsonby Memorial Society. p. 112. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
- ^ "Ninna-ji Temple - Kyoto Travel Guide | Planetyze". Planetyze. Retrieved 2017-08-16.