| [Official Name] Saiho-ji temple (Kokedera/Moss
temple) [Location] Matsuo-jingatani-cho, Nishigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi [Kaizan] Priest Gyoki [Religious Sect] Rinzai-shu sect |
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Saiho-ji temple (Koke-dera temple)
[Official Name] Saiho-ji temple (Kokedera/Moss temple)
[Location] Matsuo-jingatani-cho, Nishigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi
[Kaizan] Priest Gyoki
[Religious Sect] Rinzai-shu sect
Brief Explanation The Garden History Emperor Shomu Priest Gyoki
Brief Explanation
Saiho-ji temple is located in the west of Kyoto, and is also called Koke-dera (moss) temple. The name, moss temple comes from the beautiful moss growing there. It is a Rinzai-shu sect temple, and 1300 years ago, was built by priest Gyoki, who was ordered from Emperor Shomu. Saiho-ji temple's garden was made by Muso Soseki in 1339. This garden, covered with moss, is in the Chisen Kaiyu (circling pond) style, and is one of Kyoto's prominent gardens. Saiho-ji temple's garden was famous in those days for its beauty, and just going there became one's pride. The beauty of the garden mainly came from the excellent formation, but also from its perfect care and management. Later on, however, it was burned down in a fire and also lost its shape in a flood, leaving the garden and temple completely damaged. Then, the moss began to grow. To admire the moss will be putting the cart before the horse, however, the scenery of the moss is absolutely marvelous. In those days, many buildings were standing from the top of the mountain to the bottom. Also, the stories about Ashikaga Yoshimitsu imitating Saiho-ji temple to build Kinkaku-ji temple, and Ashikaga Yoshimasa imitating the garden to make the garden in Ginkaku-ji temple are famous. It is said that Yoshimasa was greatly moved by the garden's view expressing the Land of Happiness.
The Garden
This garden is designated as Japan's historic and scenic spot. The garden is made of two parts; one is in the Chisen Kaiyu (circling pond) style, having a pond in the shape of the Kanji "Kokoro (heart)" in the in the center consisting four islands, and the other garden is a kare-sansui garden. In the former garden, there are approximately 130 types of moss growing. The contrast with the trees are fabulous, and the atmosphere is very natural, quite different from other gardens which are obvious that they were made by human. The kare-sansui garden is just as wonderful as the Chisen Kaiyu style garden. There are many large stones assembled together. This kare-sansui garden contains no water, however, it is said that if you sit on a stone and close your eyes, you will hear the sound of water, and if you open and strain your eyes, you will see water flowing before you. When people experience the mysterious feeling of shining water, and life, overflowing around them, they will be greatly moved. Then, when they come to themselves again, the mossy stones will be sitting there silently, as if they had been there from a long time ago.
This moment in which people feel as one with the garden, is familiar to noh. Noh is a world of the subtle and profound, which starts from denying everything, but acting "the something" which we cannot deny, as the truth. This garden also denies everything: by taking out all the artificial elements to make it natural, but encounters the truth which we cannot deny: encounters the beauty one feels when all is natural. Muso Soseki, who made this garden, was a great man who even received the title as "The Most Reverend Priest" from the Imperial Court. He, who is also a garden maker, took in the idea of Zen, and rose the quality of gardens to the spiritual level. Japanese gardens have some gorgeous elements, but there also are elements, completely reverse to gorgeousness. These unparalleled Japanese gardens were spread by the Zen priest, Muso Soseki. In the gardens he made, is the spirit of satori.
History
In the Nara era, the population increased, and the government was short of land to give to farmers. At the same time, farmers who couldn't bear to pay the taxes ran away, and caused the government's economy to get serious because of the shortage in tax incomes. To make up for the shortage, the government stopped the law; the government owns all the land in the country, and changed the law to; the land one cultivates is his property. Also at this time, the country was not stabilized, with many plagues such as smallpox going around, and scrambles for power occurring within the government. In such a country, Buddhism was used as something for the people to rely on, and to unify the country. However, the priests began to take power and bustle, making the matter worse. The capital was soon moved to Heian-kyo.
Emperor Shomu
Emperor Shomu was an emperor of the Nara era. Farmers were very poor in this period, but on the contrary, this was a period when the culture of the nobles prospered. The culture here is called Tenpyo-bunka culture. In the Nara era where Buddhism and politics were connected closely, Emperor Shomu especially was strong in faith for Buddhism, and he ordered each region to build a temple. In the capital, he built the Todai-ji temple as the representative temple of the country. In this temple, a great image of Buddha was installed, which took nine years to make. This great image of Buddha was a manifestation of God, and also a symbol of power. In the background of Emperor Shomu, relying on Buddhism to unify the country, probably was a measure not to lose his power as the emperor.
Priest Gyoki
He played an important role in the construction of the Todai-ji temple. Also, he went around villages and spread Buddhism, made ponds, and built bridges for the people.
