Osawa Pond, Daikakuji garden in Kyoto, Arashiyama. Originally built in 855 as a palace for emperor Saga, it later became a Shingon Buddhism temple.
Daikakuji Temple, former Saga Palace – also known as Sagasan, this is the head-temple of the Daikakuji School of Shingon Buddhism. The temple was originally part of the Saga-in Detached Palace of Emperor Saga, who would retire here later. This section was turned into a temple in 876, after the emperor’s deatch in 842 and named Daikakuji. After a period during which it was abandoned, a succession of cloistered emperors lived here, starting in 1268 with Go-Saga, and followed by Kameyama and Go-Uda. They restored the temple and established the Daikakuji lineage of emperors which had clashes with Jimyoin lineage over succession to the throne. In 1333 Emperor Go Daigo managed to overthrow the Kamakura Shogunate in the Kemmu restoration, but clashs with Ashikaga Takauji, leading to the Northern and Southern Courts Period. This conflict between two imperial branches was finally settled in 1392. The Shinden Hall was relocated here from the imperial palace, where it had been the residence of Emperor Go-Mizuno’s empress consort, Tokugawa Masako. The interiror decorated with gorgeous screen door painting by Kano Sanraku featuring peonies, pink and white plum blossoms, and more. Other buildings in the grounds included the Founders Hall (Mie-do). One of Daikakuji's most important treasures is a copy of the Heart Sutra that was handwritten by Emperor Saga at the instruction of Kobo Daishi. The sutra supposedly ended a mysterious plague that was sweeping the country during the Heian Period. It is kept in the octagonal Heart Sutra Hall and exhibited to the public once every 60 years. Next door to the temple is Osawa Pond, a 1200 year old man-made body of water that is the oldest and last surviving (albeit incomplete) example of a Shinden-style garden. The pond was originally built for Emperor Saga's detached palace, and was used to throw elaborate parties and for recreational activities such as boating, fishing and moon viewing.
Size: 4715px × 3145px
Location: Daikakuji Saga, Arashiyma, Kyoto
Photo credit: © Magdalena Rittenhouse / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: arashiyama, architecture, buddhism, culture, daikakuji, day, garden, heian, history, japan, kyoto, medieval, osawa, pond, religion, saga, shingon, spring, stroll, structure, sunny, temple, travel, water
