Konkai Komyo-ji Temple (Monju-to,location,history)

Konkai Komyo-ji Temple, Monju-to

The information about Konkai Komyo-ji Temple is presented here. Konkai Komyo-ji Temple was founded in 1175 and later became one of the Kyoto Shika Honzan (the four main temples of Kyoto), along with Chion-in Temple, Hyakumanben Chion-ji Temple, and Shojoke-in Temple. Konkai Komyo-ji Temple houses the statue of Senju Kannon (Thousand-armed Kannon, Kibi Kannon) in its Hondo, and is the 6th temple of the Rakuyo Sanjusansho Kannon Reijo.

【Konkai Komyo-ji Temple Location Map & Directions】

Address: 121 Kurodani-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Okazaki-michi bus stop (about 10 minutes on foot), Higashitenno-cho bus stop (about 15 minutes on foot), Subway Keage Station (about 25 minutes on foot)

【Opening Hours & Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 9:00-16:00
Closed: open year round

【Entrance Fees & Tickets (confirmation required)】

Individual: Shino (special admission fee available)

【Konkai Komyo-ji Temple History】

The site where Konkai Komyo-ji Temple (金戒光明寺) was built is said to be the site of the villa of the court noble Fujiwara no Akitoki. It is said that Fujiwara no Akitoki then donated it to the Tendai sect monk Eiku, and Zenbo of Okazaki Shirakawa was built there. This area was the territory of Hieizan Kurodani, and when Eiku died, Honbo of Hieizan Kurodani and Zenbo of Okazaki Shirakawa were given to Honen-shonin, the founder of the Jodo sect. Furthermore, Hieizan Kurodani is also called “Moto-Kurodani” and Okazaki Shirakawa is also called “Shin-Kurodani”. Konkai Komyo-ji Temple is said to have been founded in 1175, when Honen-shonin descended from Hieizan Kurodani and established the first hermitage. Konkai Komyo-ji Temple was the first temple of the Jodo sect, and was initially also known as Zenbo of Shirakawa. In 1175, the 43-year-old Honen-shonin performed Nenbutsu on a stone at the top of the mountain to spread the teachings of Nenbutsu, and purple clouds filled the entire mountain, illuminating the area. Konkai Komyo-ji Temple is as prestigious as Chion-in Temple and is one of the Jodo-syu Shichidai Honzai (seven major main temples of the Jodo sect), along with Chion-in Temple, Hyakumanben Chion-ji Temple, Shojoke-in Temple, Zojo-ji Temple, Komyo-ji Temple, Zenko-ji Temple Daihongan and Zendo-ji Temple. It is said that during the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Honen-shonin gave Honbo of Hieizan Kurodani and Zenbo of Shirakawa to the 2nd head monk of Konkai Komyo-ji Temple Horenbo Shinku, grandson of Fujiwara no Akitoki and the founder of the Shirakawa followers. Horenbo Shinku resided in Zenbo of Shirakawa, which became the base of the Shirakawa followers. Later, Okazaki Shirakawa became known as “Kurodani” instead of “Shin-Kurodani”. Around the middle of the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Sogetsubo Egi, the 5th head monk of Konkai Komyo-ji Temple, built the temple complex and named it Shiunzan Komyo-ji Temple, after an auspicious vision of Honen-shonin. During the Nanbokucho period (1337-1392), Gakanbo Unku, the 8th head monk of Konkai Komyo-ji Temple, gave the Buddhist precepts to the 4th Emperor of the Northern Dynasty, Emperor Go-kogon, and Konkai Komyo-ji Temple was given the two characters “Konkai (金戒)” and thus becoming known as Konkai Komyo-ji Temple. In 1428, Konkai Komyo-ji Temple received the imperial inscription “Jodo Shinsyu Saisho-no-mon” from the 100th Emperor Go-Komatsu, the 6th Emperor of the Northern Dynasty, in reference to the place where Honen Shonin first propagated the Jodo sect. It is said that in the middle of the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the Onin War (1467-1477) occurred and Konkai Komyo-ji Temple was burned down by military fire. It is said that in 1585, Toyotomi Hideyoshi issued a shuin to Konkai Komyo-ji Temple with a temple territory of 130 koku. In the early Edo period (1603-1867), the Edo shogunate renovated the temple complex of Konkai Komyo-ji Temple together with Chion-in Temple into a castle structure. In 1612, Toyotomi Hideyori, the son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, rebuilt Amidado. It is said that Toyonaga Kensai built Monjuto in 1633 to commemorate Tokugawa Hidetada, the 2nd shogun of the Edo Shogunate. In 1689, Kyodo was built and in 1860, San-mon Gate was rebuilt. In 1862, Konkai Komyo-ji Temple became the honjin (main base) of the Aizu-han (domain), which became the Kyoto Shugoshoku (guardian of Kyoto). 1,000 people, including han-shi (samurai), were permanently stationed there, and they were rotated every year. In 1936, Dai-Hojo and Genkan were rebuilt, around 1936, Kara-mon Gate was built and in 1944, Mieido was rebuilt. In 1946, Konkai Komyo-ji Temple became independent as the Kurodani Jodo sect, but joined the Jodo sect in 1977.
*reference・・・Konkai Komyo-ji Temple website

【Konkai Komyo-ji Temple Highlights (May be undisclosed)】

★Monju-to (Monju Pagoda, 文殊塔, Important Cultural Property) is said to have been built in 1633 by Toyonaga Kensai to mourn the bodhi of Tokugawa Hidetada, the 2nd shogun of the Edo shogunate. Monju-to is a three-story pagoda with a height of about 22 meters. Monju-to used to house the statue of Monju Bosatsu, said to have been created by the Buddhist sculptor Unkei, but now the statue has been moved to Mieido. Konkai Komyo-ji Temple was considered one of the Hocho San Monju (three Monju temples), along with Abe Monju-in Temple in Nara and Chion-ji Temple in Kyoto Amanohashidate.
★Mieido (御影堂) was destroyed by fire in 1934 and rebuilt in 1944. Mieido is also known as Daiden and houses the statue of Honen-shonin, 75 years old. Mieido houses the main statue of Amida Nyorai and the statue of Senju Kannon (Thousand-armed Kannon, Kibi Kannon).
★San-mon (San-mon Gate, 山門) was rebuilt in 1860. San-mon houses the statues of Hokan Shaka Nyorai, Monju Bosatsu, Fugen Bosatsu, and Juroku Rakan. There is also a “Banryu-zu (Dragon)” painted by the artist Nakadono Gyoen at San-mon.
金戒光明寺見どころ (Konkai Komyo-ji Temple Highlights)

【Flower Calendar (cherry blossoms, etc )】

★The best time to see cherry blossoms (桜) is around early April. About 100 cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino and weeping cherry trees, are planted, and it is said that Somei Yoshino in front of San-mon with a height of about 23 meters and the cherry trees at the Aizu Clan Cemetery, where bas Gokurakubashi Bridge and Lotus Pond, are beautiful.
★The best time to see autumn leaves (紅葉) is from mid-November to late November. Maple trees and other trees are planted on the vast grounds, and it is said that the scenery of the autumn leaves, Monju-to, Shiun-no-niwa (garden) is beautiful. Konkai Komyo-ji Temple is illuminated every year around the time of autumn leaves, and a special night viewing is held. (night illumination, 紅葉ライトアップ)
金戒光明寺紅葉ライトアップ (Konkai Komyo-ji Temple night illumination)
(The best time to see the plants depends on the climate of the year.)

【Telephone (Please refrain from making phone calls.)】

Tel: +81-75-771-2204

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Konkai Komyo-ji Temple is the route to Shinnyo-do Temple (Shinsho Gokuraku-ji Temple) on the north side. Shinnyo-do Temple has a Sanjyu-no-to (three-story pagoda) with a height of about 30 meters high. To the southwest of Konkai Komyo-ji Temple are the Heian Jinguu Shrine, the National Museum of Modern Art, the Municipal Art Museum, and the Municipal Zoo, and it may be a good idea to take a walk around them.

【Remarks(access, parking, disclaimer, etc)】
If you plan to visit Konkai Komyo-ji Temple, be sure to check the latest information.

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