Leaf KYOTO Delivered by Leaf, a local information magazine!

FOLLOW US

2022.7.22
  • LINE
  • FaceBook
  • twitter
Flower Ceiling at Houkouji Temple

A temple with the remains of Kyoto's Great Buddha and a sense of history [Hokoji]

This temple of the Sanmon school of the Tendai sect was founded by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Tensho 14 (1586). The floral ceiling is located in the Daikokudo Hall, which enshrines Daikokuten, a god said to have been Hideyoshi's good-luck charm, and all the floral ceiling paintings in the hall's inner sanctum have different pictures of flowers on them. The paintings on the ceiling inside the bell tower, where the temple bell is located, are also noteworthy.

1.Houkouji Temple and flower ceiling

A temple of the Sanmon school of the Tendai sect, founded by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Tensho 14 (1586). At the time of its construction, a 19-meter-high wooden statue of the Great Buddha was enshrined as the principal image, but it is said to have collapsed during the Keicho Earthquake. Today, the main statue, Vairocana Nyorai, one-tenth the size of the Great Buddha of that time, is enshrined in the main hall. The flower ceiling is located inside the Daikokudo Hall, which enshrines Daikokuten, a deity said to have been carried by Hideyoshi as a talisman. There are 80 floral ceiling paintings in the inner sanctum of the hall, all with different pictures of flowers. The ceiling inside the bell tower, where the temple bell is located, is also painted, so be sure to observe both ceilings carefully when you visit the temple.

Houhouji Temple
Flower Ceiling at Houkouji Temple

Visitors can see lovely flowers painted in a circular pattern. In addition to Japanese flowers, colorful Western flowers decorate a total of 80 ceilings. Production period and painter are unknown.

2.Feel up close the trigger that set history in motion.

The temple bell is one of the three most famous bells in Japan and is designated as an important cultural property. Inside the bell tower, there is a ceiling painting "Karyotaika" which was transferred from Fushimi Castle. The bronze inscription on the bell, which is said to have triggered the Battle of Osaka, reads, "Nation's peace, sovereignty, and prosperity".

Buddhist temple bell / Up close and personal with the catalyst that set history in motion

Respect to the ceiling.

3.The masterpiece "Shinryu-zu" said to have been painted at Hokoji Temple

This hanging scroll is a representative work by Yoshikawa Reika, a Japanese-style painter active in the Meiji and Taisho periods. It is said that he painted this work at the request of the chief priest of the temple at that time. It was originally a ceiling painting for the inner sanctuary of Daikokudo, where Daikokuten is enshrined, and is huge, measuring approximately 4.5 meters in size.

Shinryu / Masterpiece said to have been painted at Houkouji Temple

Houhouji Temple

  • direction
  • 527-2 Chayamachi, Yamato-oji Higashi-iru, Maezen-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 10-minute walk from Keihan Shichijo Station
  • Tel. 075-561-7676
  • 7 days a week
  • Precincts freedom
  • https://www.instagram.com/hokojikyoto/
  • The flower ceiling can be viewed only during special openings.
    Special Open House Period / September 10-19, 2022 *Closed on September 17.
    *Check Instagram for special openings.
*Please note that the information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
*Since this site uses automatic translation, the translation may differ from the original Japanese content.

I want to read together

NewsNews

Feature articleFeature article

Featured eventFeatured event

↑

Site guide