Symbol of a prestigious monzeki temple associated with Emperor Saga and chrysanthemums 平安時代のはじめ、嵯峨天皇が離宮嵯峨院を建立したことが前身。後に孫に当たる恒寂親王を開山として876年に寺院となった。平安時代の雅な王朝文化を築かれたと伝わる嵯峨天皇について、旧嵯峨御所大本山大覚寺執行を務める竹原さんにお伺いした。「嵯峨天皇さまは菊の花をたいへん好まれ、9月9日の重陽の節句では観菊の宴を催された記録がございます」。漢詩に優れていらした嵯峨天皇、この宴の折に詠まれた詩も残されているそう。さらに、大覚寺はいけばな嵯峨御流の総司所でもあり、そのキーポイントとなっているのも『嵯峨天皇と菊』であると教えてくださった。 「嵯峨天皇さまは、大沢池の菊ヶ島に自生する菊の花をお生けになられ、『後世、花を賞するもの、宜しく之をもって範とすべし』と仰せになられました。このお言葉が嵯峨天皇さまのご叡慮であり、ご始祖と仰ぐ由縁であります」。そんなふうに、菊との所縁を持つ嵯峨天皇が菊花紋を用いたと想像してしまうが、定着したのはもう少し後の時代。「菊の紋と言えば皇室の御紋章ですよね。その始まりは鎌倉時代の後鳥羽上皇が用いたこととされております。大覚寺では鎌倉時代より後嵯峨天皇、亀山天皇、後宇多天皇と三代続いて住職となられ、幕末期まで代々皇族関係の方が住職を務めてこられました。その故あって菊の御紋を使わせていただいております」。こよなく愛した菊の花が今も寺院の象徴として用いられることに、嵯峨天皇もきっと喜ばれているはず。

Note the subtly placed crests and the unusual nine-dot chrysanthemum pattern throughout the set-up.

The temple crest of Daikakuji Temple is the eightfold chrysanthemum crest "16-leaf eightfold Omotegiku" of the valve, which is officially designated as the crest of the imperial family. We asked about spots where the crest can be seen on the temple grounds.
Most of the halls have been relocated from buildings that were actually used in the Imperial Palace, and you can see this everywhere, from the balustrades of the corridors to the door decorations," Takehara said. As Mr. Takehara says, a large banner with a crest welcomes visitors at the entrance to the Shikidai (ceremonial platform) in front of the entrance to the shrine. The Imperial Gate, with its powerful crest, is only open on special occasions, such as official visits by the imperial family and memorial services, so you cannot get close to it, but the solemn atmosphere can be seen from a distance.
When Hōhō Go-Uda served as abbot of the temple, his emblem was a 'kuyo chrysanthemum' with eight chrysanthemums surrounding a central chrysanthemum. You can see the crest on the gosho used by the emperor, which is rare in Daikakuji Temple, on display in the entrance of the Shikidai," he said. There are many souvenirs you can take home with you, such as fu senbei crackers branded with the chrysanthemum crest, a red seal book designed with the crest as the moon, and an omamori, a good-luck charm. They also sell them online, so those who cannot visit the temple can also check them out.

Don't miss the Daikakuji Sagagan chrysanthemum, the most impressive exhibition event, which is presented to the Imperial Court.

The chrysanthemums that grew wild on Kikugashima and the banks of Osawa Pond in the Heian period (794-1185) cannot be seen today, but they are growing their own Daikakuji Saga chrysanthemums, which are considered to be kept outside the gate. It is a thin, thread-like ancient chrysanthemum, and is grown to a height of 2 meters so that it can be appreciated from the corridor. Three chrysanthemums are planted in one pot, with seven flowers at the bottom, five flowers in the middle, and three flowers at the tip, forming a "753" pattern, and the leaves, from the bottom, are yellow with dead leaves, green, and young leaves, representing the four seasons. The leaves also represent the four seasons, with four different colors of flowers. Since they are vulnerable to strong sunlight and wind and rain, the Daikakuji Saga Chrysanthemum Preservation Society takes care of them as if they were their own children. During the Saga Chrysanthemum Exhibition, held every year from November 1 to 30, as many as 800 pots of Saga chrysanthemums bloom in the temple grounds. The potted plants are presented to the imperial court and delivered to the residences of the imperial family. We are grateful that people look forward to seeing them every year.
The Daikakuji Saga chrysanthemum still has a connection with the imperial family. Mr. Takehara-san's careful explanation of the chrysanthemums gave us a glimpse of the hard work of the members of the Daikakuji Saga Chrysanthemum Preservation Society. The high quality of the chrysanthemums, which have been carefully preserved, should be appreciated together with the chrysanthemum crest.

家柄を表すシンボルとして用いられてきた家紋や、神紋・寺紋と呼ばれる神社や寺院固有の紋章は、平安時代に公家が自分の調度品や持ち物に目印として紋様を付けたことがはじまり。 その種類は大きく分けて現在240以上あり、なかでも一番多いのが花や葉をモチーフにした植物紋で、四季折々の植物に富む。