Rokuharamitsu-ji Temple

Rokuharamitsu-ji Temple is an ancient temple of the Chizan branch of Shingon Buddhism, located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. Its mountain name is Fudaraku-zan. The temple was founded in 951 (Tenryaku 5) by the monk Kuya, regarded as the originator of “kucho nenbutsu” (chanting the nenbutsu) and a pioneer of Pure Land Buddhism among common people. The origin of the name is said to come either from the Buddhist doctrine of the “Six Perfections (Rokuharamitsu)” or from the ancient place name “Rokuhara.” It is also known as the 17th temple of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage. Access is about a 10-minute walk from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station on the Keihan Line. Rokuharamitsu-ji is closely associated with the Taira (Heike) clan; at its height, it is said that over 5,200 residences of the clan were built in and around the precincts. When the Heike fled the capital in 1183 (Juei 2), most of the temple was burned down except for the main hall. The current main hall was rebuilt in the Nanboku-cho period and is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The principal image, a wooden standing Eleven-Headed Kannon, is a National Treasure. It is a hibutsu (hidden Buddha) and is only opened to the public once every 12 years, in the Year of the Dragon. In addition to the principal image, the temple preserves many cultural assets, including a statue of Kuya and an image traditionally attributed to Taira no Kiyomori, displayed in its treasure hall.