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Kongobuji and the Danjo Garan

Wakayama · Koya · Architecture

Japanese name: 金剛峯寺と壇上伽藍

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Kongobuji and the Danjo Garan
Photo: 663highland / CC BY 2.5 · Source ↗
WHAT TO DOKongobuji and the Danjo Garan

Kukai's mountain monastery, laid out so that the position of each hall and pagoda maps a mandala.

WHEREWakayama

Koya · Koya

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Overview

Kukai's mountain monastery, laid out so that the position of each hall and pagoda maps a mandala.

About this place

Kongōbu-ji (金剛峯寺) is the ecclesiastic head temple of Kōyasan Shingon Buddhism, located on Mount Kōya (高野山, Kōya-san), Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Its name means Vajra Peak Temple. It is part of the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple was first constructed as Seigan-ji Temple in 1593 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi on the death of his mother, rebuilt in 1861, and given its present name in 1869. It contains many sliding screen doors painted by Kanō Tanyū (1602-1674) and members of the Kyoto Kanō school. The temple's modern Banryūtei (蟠龍庭 rock garden) is Japan's largest (2340 square meters), with 140 granite stones arranged to suggest a pair of dragons emerging from clouds to protect the temple. The 414th abbot of Kongōbu-ji is the Reverend Kogi Kasai, who also acts as the archbishop of the Kōyasan Shingon school. At the temple, visitors can listen to the sermons of the monks and participate in ajikan meditation sessions. The term ajikan refers to a fundamental breathing and meditation method of Shingon Buddhism: "meditating on the letter A" written using the Siddhaṃ alphabet.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Source ja.wikipedia.org ↗

Key facts

Founded / opened:816 Architect / artist:Kukai Highlights / collection:Konpon Daito, National Treasure Fudodo, Banryutei (Coiled Dragon Garden) Genre:Architecture, Antique art and Buddhist art

Source ja.wikipedia.org ↗

Official website

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Source koyasan.or.jp ↗

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