Difference between revisions of "Seiken-ji"
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The temple is believed to have been originally founded in the late 7th century, as a temple associated with, and protecting, the barrier checkpoint at Kiyomi-ga-seki<ref>The "Seiken" of the temple's name (清見) is an alternate reading of the characters for "Kiyo-mi" in Kiyomi-ga-seki.</ref> The temple was re-established as a Rinzai Zen temple in [[1261]], by Zen master [[Muden Shozen|Muden Shôzen]]<!--無伝聖禅-->. The temple was restored once again by [[Shogun]] [[Ashikaga Takauji]] in the 14th century. | The temple is believed to have been originally founded in the late 7th century, as a temple associated with, and protecting, the barrier checkpoint at Kiyomi-ga-seki<ref>The "Seiken" of the temple's name (清見) is an alternate reading of the characters for "Kiyo-mi" in Kiyomi-ga-seki.</ref> The temple was re-established as a Rinzai Zen temple in [[1261]], by Zen master [[Muden Shozen|Muden Shôzen]]<!--無伝聖禅-->. The temple was restored once again by [[Shogun]] [[Ashikaga Takauji]] in the 14th century. | ||
| − | The temple has been host to many | + | The temple has been host to many prominent historical figures. According to temple tradition, when he was a child, [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] accompanied his tutor Abbot Taigen Sessai 太原雪斎 on his visits to Seiken-ji.<ref>Statler p. 30; http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/清見寺.</ref> [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] stayed there while his headquarters were being completed for the [[1590]] [[siege of Odawara]]; he is said to have been impressed by the sound of the temple bell, and requisitioned it for use during the campaign. Seiken-ji also saw the visits of shogun [[Tokugawa Iemochi]], who stayed there briefly in [[1862]] while on his way to Kyoto, and of [[Emperor Meiji]], who stayed there [[1869|seven years later]] while on his way to the new capital of Tokyo. |
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| + | Seiken-ji maintains an important connection to the [[Ryukyuan embassies to Edo]], as it is the site of the grave of [[Prince Sho Ko|Crown Prince Shô Kô]], younger brother to King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]], who died at Okitsu in [[1610]], while a hostage of [[Shimazu Iehisa]] following the [[Invasion of Ryukyu|Shimazu invasion of Ryûkyû]] the previous year. Ryukyuan embassies to Edo customarily stopped to visit his grave during the remainder of the [[Edo period]]. There are records of stops in [[1710]], [[1714]], [[1749]], [[1764]], [[1790]], [[1806]], [[1832]], and [[1850]]. In [[1790]], Prince [[Ginowan Chosho|Ginowan Chôshô]]<!--宜野湾王子朝祥--> (also known as Shô Yô<!--尚容-->) erected a new gravestone next to the original one, both of which still stand today.<ref>''Shirarezaru Ryûkyû shisetsu'' 知られざる琉球使節, Fukuyama-shi Tomonoura rekishi minzoku shiryôkan (2006), 87.</ref> A framed piece of calligraphy by Ginowan Chôshô donated to the temple at that time hangs inside the temple's main hall (''hondô''), along with a number of similar plaques associated with [[Korean embassies to Edo]]. | ||
Other objects held by the temple and associated with Ryûkyû include a set of bronze lanterns, six scrolls of memorial writings prepared between 1710 and 1752, eight scrolls of memorial writings prepared between 1764 and 1850, an old ''[[sanshin]]'' (''shamisen'') today displayed in the ''zashiki'' (parlor) of the temple's main hall, and a number of ''[[tenmoku]]'' ceramics and [[Ryukyuan lacquer|lacquerwares]] today held in the temple's Treasure House. | Other objects held by the temple and associated with Ryûkyû include a set of bronze lanterns, six scrolls of memorial writings prepared between 1710 and 1752, eight scrolls of memorial writings prepared between 1764 and 1850, an old ''[[sanshin]]'' (''shamisen'') today displayed in the ''zashiki'' (parlor) of the temple's main hall, and a number of ''[[tenmoku]]'' ceramics and [[Ryukyuan lacquer|lacquerwares]] today held in the temple's Treasure House. | ||
| − | Seiken-ji is probably best known to | + | Seiken-ji is probably best known to Westerners through [[Oliver Statler|Oliver Statler's]] book ''[[Japanese Inn]]'', which centers around an inn in Okitsu. Statler got much information about the temple directly from temple officials. |
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==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 22:35, 13 October 2013
- Established: late 7th century
- Other Names: 巨鼇山 (Kogouzan)
- Japanese: 清見寺 (Seiken-ji; Kiyomi-dera)
Seiken-ji is a Rinzai Zen temple of the Myôshinji sect in Okitsu 興津 in Suruga province, just east of Sunpu, now part of Shizuoka City of Shizuoka prefecture. It dominates an important point on the Tokaido Highway, and so has been destroyed and rebuilt several times.
The temple is believed to have been originally founded in the late 7th century, as a temple associated with, and protecting, the barrier checkpoint at Kiyomi-ga-seki[1] The temple was re-established as a Rinzai Zen temple in 1261, by Zen master Muden Shôzen. The temple was restored once again by Shogun Ashikaga Takauji in the 14th century.
The temple has been host to many prominent historical figures. According to temple tradition, when he was a child, Tokugawa Ieyasu accompanied his tutor Abbot Taigen Sessai 太原雪斎 on his visits to Seiken-ji.[2] Toyotomi Hideyoshi stayed there while his headquarters were being completed for the 1590 siege of Odawara; he is said to have been impressed by the sound of the temple bell, and requisitioned it for use during the campaign. Seiken-ji also saw the visits of shogun Tokugawa Iemochi, who stayed there briefly in 1862 while on his way to Kyoto, and of Emperor Meiji, who stayed there seven years later while on his way to the new capital of Tokyo.
Seiken-ji maintains an important connection to the Ryukyuan embassies to Edo, as it is the site of the grave of Crown Prince Shô Kô, younger brother to King Shô Nei, who died at Okitsu in 1610, while a hostage of Shimazu Iehisa following the Shimazu invasion of Ryûkyû the previous year. Ryukyuan embassies to Edo customarily stopped to visit his grave during the remainder of the Edo period. There are records of stops in 1710, 1714, 1749, 1764, 1790, 1806, 1832, and 1850. In 1790, Prince Ginowan Chôshô (also known as Shô Yô) erected a new gravestone next to the original one, both of which still stand today.[3] A framed piece of calligraphy by Ginowan Chôshô donated to the temple at that time hangs inside the temple's main hall (hondô), along with a number of similar plaques associated with Korean embassies to Edo.
Other objects held by the temple and associated with Ryûkyû include a set of bronze lanterns, six scrolls of memorial writings prepared between 1710 and 1752, eight scrolls of memorial writings prepared between 1764 and 1850, an old sanshin (shamisen) today displayed in the zashiki (parlor) of the temple's main hall, and a number of tenmoku ceramics and lacquerwares today held in the temple's Treasure House.
Seiken-ji is probably best known to Westerners through Oliver Statler's book Japanese Inn, which centers around an inn in Okitsu. Statler got much information about the temple directly from temple officials.
References
- "Seiken-ji." Digital Daijisen デジタル大辞泉. Shogakukan, Inc.
- Watanabe Miki. "Nihon ni okeru Ryûkyû shiseki." (personal website)
- Statler, Oliver, Japanese Inn, Pyramid Books, 1962.
Notes
- ↑ The "Seiken" of the temple's name (清見) is an alternate reading of the characters for "Kiyo-mi" in Kiyomi-ga-seki.
- ↑ Statler p. 30; http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/清見寺.
- ↑ Shirarezaru Ryûkyû shisetsu 知られざる琉球使節, Fukuyama-shi Tomonoura rekishi minzoku shiryôkan (2006), 87.
External Links
- http://seikenji.com/ The temple's web page, with photos of buildings, the garden, and art treasures.
- Seiken-ji on Google Maps.
