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Toji
[Copyright (c) http://p-fan.net/] The official name for this temple is Kyo-o-gokoku-ji but the name To-ji is more widely known. To-ji literary means East Temple and there used to be West Temple, or Sai-ji. They both were built on the east and west side of Rajo-mon, a big gate of Heian-kyo (Heian Capital) when the capital was moved from Nagaoka Capital in 794. They were built to protect the left and west side (Ukyo and Sakyo) of Heian Capital and also protect the east and west side of Japan. In 823, Emperor Saga confided Toji to Kobo-daishi (Kukai), the famous priest who is the founder of Shingon Buddhism. To-ji prospered as “Kobo-daishi’s temple” as beliefs of Kobo-daishi spread in the public. Sai-ji, or West Temple, on the other hand, weakened in the early stage. Only the monument of the temple remains now. 
[Copyright (c) http://p-fan.net/] Several buildings and statues or art pieces of Toji are designated as national treasures or cultural assets of national importance. Amongst those, the most famous building is the Goju-no-to, or the five stories pagoda. It is about 57 meters tall and is the tallest wooden building in Japan. The original pagoda was built by Kobo-daishi (Kukai) at the end of 9th century, but it was burnt down at least 4 times, hit by earthquakes and lightning at least 6 times. After the last fire in 1635, shogun Iemitsu Tokugawa started the reconstruction of the pagoda in 1641 and finished it in 1644. That is the 5th pagoda that remains today. After several fire disasters, none of the original buildings remains now. |
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