Daitoku-ji
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Daitokuji redirects here. For the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX) character, see Lyman Banner
Daitoku-ji (大徳寺) is a Rinzai Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan. The temple complex has the mountain-name Ryuhō-zan (龍宝山), literally meaning "dragon treasure mountain." It was established in 1319 by Shūhō Myōchō (宗峰妙超) who is also called Daitō Kokushi (大燈国師).
Daitoku-ji was frequented by Emperor Go-Daigo and was counted as one of the five sacred mountains (temples). But after the Ashikaga shogunate was established, it was removed from the list and the shogunate chose to ignore it in favor of other temples that had not openly opposed them. It then decided to stay away from meddling in politics and to focus on Buddhist teachings through Zen practices. During the Ōnin War, some of its temples were burned down and it was subsequently rebuilt by rich merchants of Sakai. After the Ashikaga shogunate fell, many daimyo donated and supported Daitoku-ji.
Many of Daitoku-ji's temples were constructed before the early Edo period. The karamon (唐門) of Daitoku-ji is believed to be a remnant of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's richly decorated palace, Jurakudai (聚楽第) and is a national treasure of Japan. The first of three gates was constructed in 1526. The temple has such national treasures as Kannon Enkaku-zu (観音猿鶴図) and Daitō Kokushi Gazo (大燈国師画像). There are six subtemples constructed by various daimyo and patrons.
- Ōbai-in (黄梅院) - Constructed by Kobayakawa Takakage
- Shinju-an (真珠庵) - Believed to be constructed by Ikkyu. The garden by Murata Tamamitsu and wall paintings by Soga Dasoku and Hasegawa Tohaku
- Daisen-in (大仙院) - The main building is a national treasure. Also with a rock garden
- Jukō-in (聚光院) - Sliding door and wall paintings by Kano Eitoku and his father Kano Shoei are a national treasure
- Ryōkō-in (龍光院) - Constructed by Kuroda Nagamasa. The tea room Mittan (密庵) is widely known
- Kohō-an (孤篷庵) - Constructed by Kobori Enshu. The tea room Bōsen (忘筌) is widely known
Ikkyu and Sen no Rikyu are two of the many famous people who are often quoted in relation to Daitoku-ji. Sen no Rikyu completed the second story of the two-story sanmon (三門) in 1589. It is said that he chose to have a statue of himself placed in the chamber at the top of the second floor. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who also frequented Daitoku-ji, realized that he and everyone else who passed through the gate to enter would be looked down upon by the statue. He commanded that the offending statue be removed and ordered Sen no Rikyu to commit seppuku. Rikyu is buried in the subtemple Jukō-in (聚光院).
 Imperial emissary gate (Chokushi-mon) |
 Garden of the Cross at Zuihō-in |
 Zuiho-tei, a garden at Zuiho-in, |Daisen-in |
 Go board used by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu at Ryogen-in, Daitoku-ji |
 Daisen-in |
 Hattō |
 Daitoku-ji |
 Daitoku-ji |
 Daitoku-ji |
 Daitoku-ji, Kotō-in |
