Daikakuji Temple in Kyoto

Daikakuji Temple in Kyoto

The original construction of the Daikakuji Temple in Kyoto dates back to the Heian Period when Emperor Saga erected it as an imperial villa for the Japan’s Royal Family. In 876 he dedicated the villa to Shingon Buddhism to express his devotion to the Shingon teaching and to the founder of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism, St. Kobo Daishi, also known as monk Kukai.
Empress Seishi, the daughter of Emperor Saga took the initiative to renovate the imperial villa as Daikakuji Temple. After the completion of the renovation work, Imperial Prince Gojaku was appointed as the first chief priest of the Kyoto’s Daikakuji Temple.

Features

- Located in the northwestern part of the Kyoto city, Daikakuji is the most tranquil among all the temples in Kyoto.
- Spectacular fusuma paintings of Momoyama period created by Sanraku Kano with the ubiquitous flower motifs adorn the interiors of the temple. In addition to this, it has a rich collection of cultural treasures.
- Daikakuji Temple is also a popular site in Kyoto city for its Saga Goryu, the home base of Ikebana flower-arranging school and Shakyo Ashram (transcribing sutra).
- Its unique location adjacent to the Ozawa pond adds to its grandeur. It resembles the Tungting Lake in China. Ozawa pond is believed to be the birthplace of popular Ikebana Saga.
- Covered corridors link the several wings of the Daikakuji Temple.

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