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Kyoto Shinkyogoku
The Sect of Fukakusa Seizan in
Jyodosyu
The Head Temple Seiganji
□ The Opening and Transition
of Seiganji
According to the History of Seiganji in the
Kamakura period, The Principal Image of AMIDANYORAI(6.5m)
was built by the sculptors Kenmonshi and
Keshikoku, who were father and son, about
1300 years ago. That was the command of the
Emperor Tenchi.
After that it took 3 years to make a building
in which to install The Image. At last Seiganji
was completed. A recent study says the place
wasn't the same as now, but near Amagatsuji
Station for Saidaiji in Nara,Yakushiji,and
so on.
When the capital was transferred to Heiankyo,
Seiganji was also moved to Ichijyoogawa in
Kyoto. And it was moved to the present place,
Sanjyoteramachi, by Hideyoshi Toyotomi.
Seiganji has had fires ten times since the
completion, but many Buddhists helped to
rebuild it again and again. The ferroconcrete
building of today was completed in 1964.
Every time Seiganji experiences fire, more
and more Buddhists make effort for the temple.
As a result, the beliefs of Buddha have spread
through the minds of many people.
□ The First Training Hall for
Buddhist Women
Seishounagon, a talented writer in the capital,
experienced a religious awakening in Seiganji
as the first woman Buddhist priest. She took
the tonsure and became a nun. Afterward she
died in a hermitage near the main hall of
Seiganji, giving herself wholly up to the
service of Buddha.
Izumishikibu, of famous nobility, also went
to Seiganji, because her daughter died leaving
her behind and realized the vanity of life.
She confined herself in a temple and gave
herself wholly up to the service of Buddha
for 48 days. Then a miraculous dream caused
her to have a firm faith and she became a
Buddhist monk. After that she was given Seishinin,
a small hall, by Michinaga Fujiwara. She
trained hard with a Buddhist invocation there
and attained nirvana at last.
We can see some women going to Seiganji in
Seiganjiengie (the Kamakura period) and Rakuchurakugaizubyobu
(the Muromachi period). These pictures are
important cultural property and the former
belongs to the national museum in kyoto.
□ A Temple to Pray for Advancement
of Our
Own Specialized Field
Sakuden Anrakuan, the 55th chief priest was
a talented man. He was a Buddhist priest,
a master of the tea ceremony, a literary
man, and the founder of Rakugo (Japanese
cultural comic story). He was the first comic
storyteller. He had some first-class cultured
friends, Teitoku Matsunaga, Enshu Kobori,
and others. Seisuisho, which consists of
8 volumes, is a famous book of comic stories
written by him.
There is an Ogizuka in the temple precincts
to pray for the priest Sakuden and to recollect
his virtue. We can hope to improve our artistic
talent.
□ Open : 9:00 a.m. ～ 5:30 p.m.
〒604-8035
Kyoto-shi Nakagyoku Shinkyogoku Sakuranocho
453
The Head Temple Seiganji
℡ 075-221-0958
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