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京都名所之内 金閣寺 / 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション

Kinkaku Temple

Common name of Rokuon Temple, built in Kitayama, Kyoto, by Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga; includes the glittering-gold Shari reliquary hall

“Kinkaku Temple” is the name commonly used for Rokuon Temple, located in Kinkakuji-cho, Kita Ward, Kyoto. Also known by its mountain name, Hokuzan, it is one of the most well-known temples in Japan, along with Ginkaku Temple. It is affiliated with the Shokoku Temple branch of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Its object of devotion is Sho-Kanzeon Bosatsu (the Holy Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva). At this site was Kitayama-dono, a villa belonging to the Saionji family, which was taken over in 1397 by the third Ashikaga shogun, Yoshimitsu Ashikaga. Following his death in 1408, his son Yoshimochi Ashikaga converted the villa into a Zen temple in accordance with his father’s will, and Soseki Muso became founder of the temple. At the time, it presented a magnificent sight, with structures including the Shiun Hall, Tenjo Room for nobility, Kyohoku Tower, Sori arched bridge, Hotoku Hall, Tenkyo Pavilion, Izumi Hall, Goma Hall, Senpo Hall, Kan’un Arbor, Shoro Bell Tower, and the So main gate. Among these structures was the Shari reliquary hall, a three-floor hogyo construction (featuring a pyramidal roof on a square-shaped building) with gold leaf applied to a foundation of lacquer on the walls, from which the name Kinkaku (Gold Pavilion) derives. Though most of the halls were destroyed during the Onin War (1467–1477), there was progress on reconstruction from the second half of the 16th century, and between 1904 and 1906 a major restoration of the Kinkaku was undertaken. In addition to a statue of the object of worship in the Abbot’s Quarters, there are statues of Soseki Muso and Yoshimitsu Ashikaga as well. Though the Kinkaku building burned to the ground in 1950 due to arson, it was rebuilt with the same design in 1955. Yukio Mishima’s full-length novel Kinkaku-ji (The Temple of the Golden Pavilion) was based on material he collected regarding this incident. The temple garden has been designated a Special Historic Site and Special Scenic Spot. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1994.

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  • 世界遺産の金閣寺・龍安寺・仁和寺をめぐる観光ルート「きぬかけの路」のオフィシャルウェブサイト。このルートには足利氏の菩提寺等持院がある。

  • 金閣寺の公式サイト。相国寺・銀閣寺ともども、拝観ガイドや沿革、関連人物案内なども紹介されている。

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