Shitenno-ji Temple in Osaka

There is a historical temple in Osaka, which is Shitenno-ji Temple. The beginning of Shitenno-ji Temple, 592, is older than the one of Horyu-ji Temple, which is the oldest existing wooden-built temple in the world. The founder of Shitenno-ji Temple is Shotoku-Taishi, who built Horyu-ji Temple as well.


 Unfortunately, Shitenno-ji Temple was devastated in an air-raid of the American army during World War II, and the current temple was rebuilt after the war. So then the value of the buildings of the temple is less than Horyu-ji Temple, nonetheless, the value of the legacy of the temple compares favorably with Horyu-ji Temple, which is one of the world cultural heritage sites.

The super characteristic positioning of Shitenno-ji Temple


One of the characteristics of Japanese beauty is asymmetry. However, the positioning of this temple is synonymous. Many cathedrals of Buddhism in Japan are constructed with four important buildings, “chumon”:a central gate, “goju-no-to”: a five tiered pagoda, “kondo”: a building for prayer and “ko-do”: a building where priests study. Each building faces to the south, it was the custom at that time. The theme of the construction was how to position them. The four buildings in Shitenno-ji Temple is synonymously placed on the straight north-south line.


That is very particular, in addition, in entering the central gate you soon come across the five tiered pagoda. And if you want to go to the kondo you have to walk around the five tiered pagoda, intentionally, it is inconvenient. As I have written, a synonymous placement of buildings is particular, but why was the temple built inconveniently in a straight line?

The legacy of Shotoku-Taishi 


The name of Shitenno-ji Temple originates from “shitenno”, who are four guarding-gods of Buddhism. The founder of this temple, Shotoku-Taishi, strongly believed in Buddhism. Before the coming of Buddhism to Japan ancient Japanese people only believed in Shintoism. However Buddhism officially came to Japan from the Asian continent in 538, so believers of Buddhism increased since then. On the contrary there were opponents of Buddhism. During a historically significant battle between supporters of Buddhism and supporters of Shintoism in 587, Shotoku-Taishi aged 13 prayed to shitenno for the victory of the supporters of Buddhism and pledged to build Shitenno-hi Temple for the shitenno when all done.

The meaning of the legacy


Now, I will write about the legacy of this temple, and it is the same as the legacy of the intention of Shotoku-Taishi. A keyword of the legacy is “west”, which contains two view points, one is from Buddhism and the other is from a diplomat of Japan.


The aspect of Osaka until the thirteen century was different from the current aspect of Osaka. To the west-side of the temple was the sea and there was no land and no forest blocking the westward view from the temple. The temple was a good place to see the sun sinking into the sea.


Look at the picture above. This is a picture which was taken from the western gate of Shitenno-ji Temple to the due west, where people prayed to a sunset of the autumn equinox. In addition, at the vernal equinox as well as the autumn equinox people pray to the sunset at the same place. In Buddhism the far west means heaven. And it is said in Buddhism that praying to the sunset in the west is good practice in order to be reborn in heaven. Ultimately, Shitenno-ji Temple faces to the west in favor of introducing people to heaven, in spite that the four important buildings face to the south.


In 581 in China “Zui” unified the country. It meant the strong power of the country by which many countries including Japan nearby China were subconsciously threatened. Shotoku-Taishi, who had governed Japan from 592, had pondered his political strategy toward Zui. Shotoku-Taishi didn’t accept being dependent on China and wanted to make a good relationship with China as an independent country. Buddhism was standard and famous in China at that time, so then showing that Japan was kind to Buddhism was important as a diplomat policy. In short, Shitenno-ji Temple was an exhibition for the sake that Japan was a country of Buddhism. Of course China is located in the west of Japan. As a result, the facial aspect of the temple which shippers from China saw from a ship was the asymmetrical form of the four buildings. Yes, Shotoku-Taishi might have wanted to exhibit the asymmetrical form of the temple to Chinese diplomatic guests.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Karuta competitions by the 100 Poems

Image
I saw on TV news that many young foreigners competed karuta competitions by the 100 Poems. I was surprised at that, as well as I was interested why they played karuta competitions and why they knew how to play. Because karuta competitions are so difficult that the number of those who play the game isn’t large even in Japan. Eventually, I never have played karuta competitions. Incidentally, the 100 Poems, “hyakunin-issyu” in Japanese, are familiar with Japanese People. Japanese people in most cases learn the 100 Poems in their junior high-schools or high-schools, and they sometimes play a game of competing accuracy and quickness with several people that players grab a card written with the only second phrases of a poem from cards on tatami listening to full phrases of a poem. Of course I learned the 100 Poems in my junior high school and sometimes played the game, but I was a weak player of karuta games. Karuta competitions are a severer sport than the game above, so the sport dema
Read more

Warikan Custom In Japan

Image
Culture in a country is the result made by the specific customs based on the thoughts of the people, if it is true, to try to look out for the specific custom of a country where you visit is a joyful challenge during your traveling time. When I visited foreign countries I experienced the different customs from Japan and I was happy to know it. Many anthropologists say that Japanese culture is especially different from cultures of other countries. Then foreigners visiting Japan will feel pleasure by finding out the different customs from their countries. Warikan is the one specific Japanese custom. Warikan is to split the bill among members who ate dishes and drank in restaurants and it is generally a popular custom in Japan. I have a foreign friend who has been in Japan from Australia and I sometimes have drinking parties with him. He knows Japanese customs but perhaps his true sense depends on western customs. At paying the bill when I suggested “sloping warikan” to him as a mat
Read more

Satsuma-biwa music

Image
Hiromi Hakozaki, who is a Satsuma-biwa player, played biwa music at the machiya of Onishi-tune-shoten and explained how biwa instruments became its present form. I want to write about one of Japan’s specific sound instruments according to her explanation. Before my explanation I want to mention my impression after listening to her play, I said to her in this way. “The sounds of Satsuma-biwa is calm in terms that it allows a human physiological phenomenon like that blood pressure will be peaceful, but is very deep in terms that it lets the human spirit vibrate strongly.” Biwa v.s. Lute Biwa(Japanese lute) came far from Persia in the 8th century via The Silk Road. The picture above is an ancient Persian lute instrument(front and back) which is stored as a national treasure in Syosoin next to Todaiji or Kasuga Shrine in Nara City from the 8th century. There is an opinion that the lute in Syosoin is the original biwa(lute). And the long history for thirteen centuries in Japan tra
Read more