Shōkoku-ji

Infobox Buddhist temple
name = Shōkoku-ji
相国寺

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denomination = Rinzai
founded = 1382
closed =
founder = Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
Muso Soseki
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address = 701 Shokokuji Monzen-chō, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, 602-0898
country = flagicon|Japan Kyoto, Japan
phone = 075-231-0301
website = [http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp] nihongo|Shōkoku-ji|相国寺, more fully entitled the "Mannen-zan Shōkoku Shōten Zenji", is a Buddhist temple in northern Kyoto, founded in 1382 by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. [Ponsonby-Fane, R. (1956). Kyoto: the Old Capital of Japan, 794-1869, pp. 200-207.]

Buddhist center

In 1383, the Zen master nihongo|Shun’oku Myoha|春屋妙葩| (1311–1388) was designated by Yoshimitsu as founding abbot,Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). [http://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&pg=PP9&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran#PRA1-PA317,M1 "Annales des empereurs du japon," p. 317.] ] however, Myoha insisted that the official honor be posthumously accorded to his own teacher, nihongo|Muso Soseki|夢窓疎石| (1275–1351).Joint Council for Japanese "Rinzai" and "Obaku" Zen. [http://zen.rinnou.net/head_temples/11shokoku.html "Head Temples: Shōkoku-ji"] ] This temple was the second of the Kyoto "Gozan", the five leading Rinzai Zen temples in Kyoto during the medieval period, established by Yoshimitsu in 1386. [see above] ] For a short time in 1392, Shōkoku-ji was considered first amongst the "Gozan." [Desmoulin, Heinrich. (2005). [http://books.google.com/books?id=hfMkpD_Xr3sC&pg=PA174&dq=Sh%C3%B4koku-ji&sig=Bi8LQ0uKbrMu8Q6_yjgSA42557A "Zen Buddhism: a History," p. 174.] ]

"Shōkoku-ji" is one of fourteen autonomous branches of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen. Today the temple is headquarters for the "Shōkoku-ji" branch of "Rinzai" Zen, with over ninety affiliated temples, including the famous Golden Pavilion and the Silver Pavilion temples in Kyoto. [see above] ]

History

Initial construction of the central temple structures was begun in 1383, and the entire temple complex was initially dedicated in 1392. In the eighth month of the third year of "Meitoku", Yoshimitsu organized a great banquet attended by all the great officers of the Imperial court and the military leaders of that time. The pomp and ceremony of the affair was said to have equaled an Imperial event. [Titsingh, [http://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&pg=PP9&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran#PRA1-PA320,M1 p. 320.] ]

The entire temple complex was destroyed by fire in 1394; but reconstruction financed by Yoshimitsu followed soon after. This process of damage and rebuilding has been repeated many times over the centuries, notably during the Onin War (1467–1477). ["Shōkoku-ji" web site: [http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/english/e_shokokuji/history/05.html Fire and Reconstruction] ]

After the Muromachi period, Shōkoku-ji was supported by several national leaders such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598), his son Toyotomi Hideyori (1593–1615), and Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616), all of whom helped finance the temple’s various reconstruction projects.
* Hideyori financed the 1605 reconstruction of the "Hatto" (Dharma Hall); and this structure, designated as an Important Cultural Property, is presently the oldest building of its type in Japan.
* Ieyasu donated the "Sanmon" (Mountain Gate) in 1609.
* Emperor Go-Mizunoo (r. 1611–1629) donated an imperial palace building to serve as the "Kaisando" (Founder’s Hall). Other buildings were reconstructed during this period, but, with the notable exception of the 17th century hatto, the temple complex was largely devastated during the conflagration of 1788. [see above] ]

Notes

References

* Desmoulin, Heinrich. (2005) [http://books.google.com/books?id=hfMkpD_Xr3sC&dq=Sh%C3%B4koku-ji&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0 "Zen Buddhism: a History."] Bloomington, Indiana: World Wisdom. 10-ISBN 0-941-53290-9; 13-ISBN 978-0-941-53290-7 (paper)
*cite web| last =| first =| authorlink =| coauthors =Joint Council for Japanese Rinzai and Obaku Zen| title ="Head Temples: Shōkoku-ji"| work =| publisher =Official Site of the Joint Council for Japanese Rinzai and Obaku Zen| date =| url =http://zen.rinnou.net/head_temples/11shokoku.html| format =| doi =| accessdate = 2008-01-20
* Titsingh, Isaac, ed. (1834). [Siyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652] , "Nipon o daï itsi ran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon." Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. [http://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran --Click for digitized, full-text copy of this book (in French)]
*cite book| last =Snyder| first =Gary| authorlink =| coauthors =| title ="Earth House Hold: Technical Notes & Queries to Fellow Dharma Revolutionaries"| publisher =New Directions Publishing| date =1969| location =| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn = 0811201953

ee also

* Hōkō-ji, today a sub-temple‎

External links

* [http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/english/index.html "Shōkoku-ji" web site]