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Tōfuku-ji

January 01, 1970

Tōfuku-ji (東福寺) is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku in Kyoto, Japan. Tōfuku-ji takes its name from two temples in Nara, Tōdai-ji and Kōfuku-ji.[1] It is one of the Kyoto Gozan or "five great Zen temples of Kyoto". Its honorary sangō prefix is Enichi-san (慧日山).

Tōfuku-ji
東福寺
Religion
AffiliationTōfuku-ji Rinzai, Fuke
DeityShaka Nyorai (Śākyamuni)
StatusHead temple, Five Mountain Temple (Kyoto)
Location
Location15-Chōme 778 Honmachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyōto, Kyoto Prefecture
CountryJapan
Geographic coordinates34°58′37.38″N 135°46′26.74″E / 34.9770500°N 135.7740944°E / 34.9770500; 135.7740944
Architecture
FounderEnni Ben'en and Kujō Michiie
Date established1236
Completed1917 (Reconstruction)
Website
http://www.tofukuji.jp/

History edit

Tōfuku-ji was founded in 1236 by the imperial chancellor Kujō Michiie.[2] He appointed the monk Enni as founding priest, who had studied Rinzai Zen Buddhism in China under the monk Wuzhun Shifan and who founded Jōten-ji temple in Hakata upon his return to his homeland. Tōfuku-ji temple burned down but was rebuilt in the 15th century according to original plans. It was because of this fire damage that a merchant ship was sent to Yuan China to replace damaged artifacts and to obtain special construction materials. The ship, however that later became known as the Shinan ship sank on her return journey close to Korean shores.

Tōfuku-ji temple was regarded as a remarkable replica of the Chinese public monasteries in Zhejiang Province, which Japanese monks frequently visited in the thirteenth century.[3]

Tofuku-ji was one of the five temples of the Five Mountain System.

The temple was greatly reduced in size from 70 buildings to 25 during the Meiji era after the Shinbutsu bunri decree. In 1881, a fire burned down many major buildings such as the Main Hall, the Hōjo, the Hattō and the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. During the Russo-Japanese War , the temple area was requisitioned and became a prisoner-of-war camp for Russians.

Both the main hall and the Hattō were rebuilt in 1917, and a new statue of Sakyamuni Buddha was later relocated to the temple in 1934.

Abbots edit

In 1486 Ryōan Keigo became the 171st abbot of Tōfuku-ji. At the end of the 16th century Ankokuji Ekei was appointed abbot. From 1980 to 2009 Tōfuku-ji has been led by head abbot Keidō Fukushima.[4]

Architecture edit

 
The main gate

Tōfuku-ji's main gate is the oldest sanmon in Japan. It is a National Treasure of Japan. It is two stories high and five bays wide. The central three bays are doors.

Currently, the Tōfuku-ji complex includes 24 sub-temples, though in the past the number has been as high as 53.

The complex includes Japan's oldest communal toilet, which was built in the first half of the muromachi period. In October 2022, a car crashed through and damaged the wooden doors and supporting pillars at the entrance to the toilet.[5]

Artwork edit

Tōfuku-ji's large nehan-zu painting depicts Buddha on his death bed. This massive image (7 x 14 meters) is the second largest in Japan. The image at nearby Sennyū-ji is the largest of its kind in Japan, measuring 8 x 16 meters. Both images are rarely displayed, most recently in 2003 for three days only.[6]

A 1238 portrait painting of Wuzhun Shifan along with an inscription by an anonymous author was brought to the temple by Enni in the 1240s and remains there today. Plaques of Wuzhun's calligraphy is also kept at Tōfuku-ji.

In 1933 the Nihonga painter Inshō Dōmoto painted the large and vivid "Blue Dragon" ceiling painting for one of the halls, which he painted in 17 days.[7]

Garden edit

 
The moss garden

There are a number of gardens in the various precincts of Tōfuku-ji. The current garden was designed by landscape architect Mirei Shigemori in the 1930s. The moss garden in particular has been emblematic of the renewal of Japanese gardening principles in the 20th Century.

The temple features a large number of Japanese maple trees, and is most crowded during the autumn season when people flock to see the autumn foliage. It is a tradition to view the leaves from the Tsūten-kyō bridge.

Images edit

  •  
    Main gate, side view
  •  
    View from interior
  •  
    Scenic drawing of Tsūten-kyō bridge, by Hiroshige
  •  
    Tsūten-kyō bridge during autumn
  •  
    Tsūten-kyō
  •  
    Dry Zen garden at Reiun-in
  •  
    Garden at Kaizandō
  •  
    Garden at Ryoginan-tōtei
  •  
    Torii gates leading to steps
  •  
    Steps
  •  
    Main hall
  •  
    Kaizandō
  •  
    Maple trees in autumn foliage around Tsūten-kyō
  •  
    View of maple trees from Tsūten-kyō

Shinan Ship edit

 
The Shinan Ship on Her Way from Nimbo to Hakata (Courtesey of Mokpo NBC): from the Documentary Titled “The Great Discovery”
 
Wooden Tags(木間) from the Shinan Shipwreck, ALL with Tofuku-ji(東福寺) Inscriptions

As mentioned in the “History” section of this article, Tōfuku-ji temple was severely damaged and partly destroyed by fires during the second and third decades of the 14th century. It was specifically in response to a fire damage in 1319 that a merchant ship was sent to Yuan China in 1323 to replace damaged artifacts and to obtain special construction materials for the reconstruction. The ship that now is known as Shinan ship, sailed from Ningbo to Hakata. The early 14th century journey was never completed though as the ship with its 200 tons of cargo was caught in a storm and sank close to Korean shores. This became apparent only after the wreckage was found almost seven hundred years later in 1975 close to the Shinan Islands. On many of the “wooden tablets” or “wooden tags”(木間) that were used customarily to identify the cargo, the Chinese calligraphy characters of Tōfuku-ji(東福寺) temple could be clearly read. Miraculously her passengers, some (or many) of them Japanese Buddhist monks, as recorded by the Korean annals Goryeosa, drifted ashore sound and safe. We can also find records of this unfavorable but overall lucky incident in the personal notes of zen monk-poet Daichi Zenji(大智禅師) who happened to be one of the repatriated passengers. [8][9]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Japan Reference: Tōfuku-ji
  2. ^ Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1956). Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794-1869, p. 152.
  3. ^ Heine, Steven; Wright, Dale S. (October 6, 2005). Zen Classics: Formative Texts in the History of Zen Buddhism. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. p. 142. ISBN 978-0195175264.
  4. ^ Harris, Ishwar C. et al. (2004). The Laughing Buddha of Tofukuji: The Life of Zen Master Keidō Fukushima, p. xi.
  5. ^ "Japan heritage worker backs car into oldest toilet at Kyoto temple". BBC News. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Kansai: Who -- What: Giant Buddhas shown for three days only," Japan Times Online. March 9, 2003.
  7. ^ . www.kyoto-magonote.jp. Archived from the original on 2016-06-13.
  8. ^ "The Return of the Celadons". Gwangju News. 2019-07-05. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  9. ^ "新案船 (Shinan Ship) Folder". titled video, please check at 2 min 02 sec. to see “Tofuku-ji” characters on one of the wooden labels(from youtube channel of user “chang gyong”). 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2024-03-09.

References edit

  • Baroni, Helen Josephine. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Zen Buddhism. New York: Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-8239-2240-6; OCLC 42680558
  • Dumoulin, Heinrich. (2005). Zen Buddhism: A History (Vol. II: Japan). Bloomington, Indiana: World Wisdom. ISBN 978-0-941532-90-7
  • Fukushima, Keidō and Fumi Dan. (2006). Tōfukuji. Kyoto: Tankōsha. ISBN 978-4-473-03353-6; OCLC 145752382
  • Harris, Ishwar C. and Jeff Shore. (2004). The Laughing Buddha of Tofukuji: The Life of Zen Master Keidō Fukushima. Bloomington, Indiana: World Wisdom. ISBN 978-0-941532-62-4; OCLC 56051074
  • Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1956). Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794-1869. Kyoto: The Ponsonby Memorial Society.

Further reading edit

  • Kawaguchi, Yoko (2014). Japanese Zen Gardens (Hardback). London: Francis Lincoln. ISBN 978-0-7112-3447-5.

External links edit

  • Tōfuku-ji official web site
  • : Tōfuku-ji
  • Joint Council for Japanese Rinzai and Obaku Zen: Tōfuku-ji
  • : Tōfuku-ji
  • Pictures of Tōfuku-ji
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tōfuku-ji.

January 01, 1970
tōfuku, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, march, 2010, learn, when, remove, this, message, 東福寺, buddhist, temple. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2010 Learn how and when to remove this message Tōfuku ji 東福寺 is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama ku in Kyoto Japan Tōfuku ji takes its name from two temples in Nara Tōdai ji and Kōfuku ji 1 It is one of the Kyoto Gozan or five great Zen temples of Kyoto Its honorary sangō prefix is Enichi san 慧日山 Tōfuku ji東福寺Main HallReligionAffiliationTōfuku ji Rinzai FukeDeityShaka Nyorai Sakyamuni StatusHead temple Five Mountain Temple Kyoto LocationLocation15 Chōme 778 Honmachi Higashiyama ku Kyōto Kyoto PrefectureCountryJapanGeographic coordinates34 58 37 38 N 135 46 26 74 E 34 9770500 N 135 7740944 E 34 9770500 135 7740944ArchitectureFounderEnni Ben en and Kujō MichiieDate established1236Completed1917 Reconstruction Websitehttp www tofukuji jp Contents 1 History 2 Abbots 3 Architecture 4 Artwork 5 Garden 6 Images 7 Shinan Ship 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External linksHistory editTōfuku ji was founded in 1236 by the imperial chancellor Kujō Michiie 2 He appointed the monk Enni as founding priest who had studied Rinzai Zen Buddhism in China under the monk Wuzhun Shifan and who founded Jōten ji temple in Hakata upon his return to his homeland Tōfuku ji temple burned down but was rebuilt in the 15th century according to original plans It was because of this fire damage that a merchant ship was sent to Yuan China to replace damaged artifacts and to obtain special construction materials The ship however that later became known as the Shinan ship sank on her return journey close to Korean shores Tōfuku ji temple was regarded as a remarkable replica of the Chinese public monasteries in Zhejiang Province which Japanese monks frequently visited in the thirteenth century 3 Tofuku ji was one of the five temples of the Five Mountain System The temple was greatly reduced in size from 70 buildings to 25 during the Meiji era after the Shinbutsu bunri decree In 1881 a fire burned down many major buildings such as the Main Hall the Hōjo the Hattō and the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha During the Russo Japanese War the temple area was requisitioned and became a prisoner of war camp for Russians Both the main hall and the Hattō were rebuilt in 1917 and a new statue of Sakyamuni Buddha was later relocated to the temple in 1934 Abbots editIn 1486 Ryōan Keigo became the 171st abbot of Tōfuku ji At the end of the 16th century Ankokuji Ekei was appointed abbot From 1980 to 2009 Tōfuku ji has been led by head abbot Keidō Fukushima 4 Architecture edit nbsp The main gate Tōfuku ji s main gate is the oldest sanmon in Japan It is a National Treasure of Japan It is two stories high and five bays wide The central three bays are doors Currently the Tōfuku ji complex includes 24 sub temples though in the past the number has been as high as 53 The complex includes Japan s oldest communal toilet which was built in the first half of the muromachi period In October 2022 a car crashed through and damaged the wooden doors and supporting pillars at the entrance to the toilet 5 Artwork editTōfuku ji s large nehan zu painting depicts Buddha on his death bed This massive image 7 x 14 meters is the second largest in Japan The image at nearby Sennyu ji is the largest of its kind in Japan measuring 8 x 16 meters Both images are rarely displayed most recently in 2003 for three days only 6 A 1238 portrait painting of Wuzhun Shifan along with an inscription by an anonymous author was brought to the temple by Enni in the 1240s and remains there today Plaques of Wuzhun s calligraphy is also kept at Tōfuku ji In 1933 the Nihonga painter Inshō Dōmoto painted the large and vivid Blue Dragon ceiling painting for one of the halls which he painted in 17 days 7 Garden edit nbsp The moss garden There are a number of gardens in the various precincts of Tōfuku ji The current garden was designed by landscape architect Mirei Shigemori in the 1930s The moss garden in particular has been emblematic of the renewal of Japanese gardening principles in the 20th Century The temple features a large number of Japanese maple trees and is most crowded during the autumn season when people flock to see the autumn foliage It is a tradition to view the leaves from the Tsuten kyō bridge Images edit nbsp Main gate side view nbsp View from interior nbsp Scenic drawing of Tsuten kyō bridge by Hiroshige nbsp Tsuten kyō bridge during autumn nbsp Tsuten kyō nbsp Dry Zen garden at Reiun in nbsp Garden at Kaizandō nbsp Garden at Ryoginan tōtei nbsp Torii gates leading to steps nbsp Steps nbsp Main hall nbsp Kaizandō nbsp Maple trees in autumn foliage around Tsuten kyō nbsp View of maple trees from Tsuten kyōShinan Ship edit nbsp The Shinan Ship on Her Way from Nimbo to Hakata Courtesey of Mokpo NBC from the Documentary Titled The Great Discovery nbsp Wooden Tags 木間 from the Shinan Shipwreck ALL with Tofuku ji 東福寺 Inscriptions As mentioned in the History section of this article Tōfuku ji temple was severely damaged and partly destroyed by fires during the second and third decades of the 14th century It was specifically in response to a fire damage in 1319 that a merchant ship was sent to Yuan China in 1323 to replace damaged artifacts and to obtain special construction materials for the reconstruction The ship that now is known as Shinan ship sailed from Ningbo to Hakata The early 14th century journey was never completed though as the ship with its 200 tons of cargo was caught in a storm and sank close to Korean shores This became apparent only after the wreckage was found almost seven hundred years later in 1975 close to the Shinan Islands On many of the wooden tablets or wooden tags 木間 that were used customarily to identify the cargo the Chinese calligraphy characters of Tōfuku ji 東福寺 temple could be clearly read Miraculously her passengers some or many of them Japanese Buddhist monks as recorded by the Korean annals Goryeosa drifted ashore sound and safe We can also find records of this unfavorable but overall lucky incident in the personal notes of zen monk poet Daichi Zenji 大智禅師 who happened to be one of the repatriated passengers 8 9 See also editZen Enni Wuzhun Shifan List of Buddhist temples List of Buddhist temples in Kyoto List of National Treasures of Japan temples List of National Treasures of Japan paintings List of National Treasures of Japan writings For an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism Japanese Buddhist art and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture see the Glossary of Japanese Buddhism Notes edit Japan Reference Tōfuku ji Ponsonby Fane Richard 1956 Kyoto The Old Capital of Japan 794 1869 p 152 Heine Steven Wright Dale S October 6 2005 Zen Classics Formative Texts in the History of Zen Buddhism Oxford United Kingdom Oxford University Press p 142 ISBN 978 0195175264 Harris Ishwar C et al 2004 The Laughing Buddha of Tofukuji The Life of Zen Master Keidō Fukushima p xi Japan heritage worker backs car into oldest toilet at Kyoto temple BBC News 18 October 2022 Retrieved 18 October 2022 Kansai Who What Giant Buddhas shown for three days only Japan Times Online March 9 2003 KYOTO MAGOnoTE zen 2016 Special Spring Openings of the Zen Temples in Kyoto www kyoto magonote jp Archived from the original on 2016 06 13 The Return of the Celadons Gwangju News 2019 07 05 Retrieved 2024 03 09 新案船 Shinan Ship Folder titled video please check at 2 min 02 sec to see Tofuku ji characters on one of the wooden labels from youtube channel of user chang gyong 2021 04 24 Retrieved 2024 03 09 References editBaroni Helen Josephine 2002 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Zen Buddhism New York Rosen Publishing Group ISBN 978 0 8239 2240 6 OCLC 42680558 Dumoulin Heinrich 2005 Zen Buddhism A History Vol II Japan Bloomington Indiana World Wisdom ISBN 978 0 941532 90 7 Fukushima Keidō and Fumi Dan 2006 Tōfukuji Kyoto Tankōsha ISBN 978 4 473 03353 6 OCLC 145752382 Harris Ishwar C and Jeff Shore 2004 The Laughing Buddha of Tofukuji The Life of Zen Master Keidō Fukushima Bloomington Indiana World Wisdom ISBN 978 0 941532 62 4 OCLC 56051074 Ponsonby Fane Richard Arthur Brabazon 1956 Kyoto The Old Capital of Japan 794 1869 Kyoto The Ponsonby Memorial Society Further reading editKawaguchi Yoko 2014 Japanese Zen Gardens Hardback London Francis Lincoln ISBN 978 0 7112 3447 5 External links editTōfuku ji official web site Kyoto Prefectural Tourism Guide Tōfuku ji Joint Council for Japanese Rinzai and Obaku Zen Tōfuku ji Buddhist Travel Tōfuku ji Pictures of Tōfuku ji nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tōfuku ji Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tōfuku ji amp oldid 1221000717, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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