About
Kongobu-ji Temple, located in Koya Town, Ito District, Wakayama Prefecture, stands on a mountain basin at an altitude of about 800 meters. For over 1,200 years, it has captivated people’s hearts as a sacred site of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism. This place was chosen by Kobo Daishi Kukai as a place for ascetic training and prayer, and was granted to him by Emperor Saga. In 816, Kukai built temple buildings here, marking the beginning of its history as the principal dojo of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism. (sekaiisan-wakayama.jp)
The name Kongobu-ji originates from the Buddhist scripture “Kongobu-ruoka-issai-yuga-yugi-kyo,” and it was Kukai who named this place “Kongobu-ji.” Initially, the entire mountain was referred to as Kongobu-ji, but since the Meiji period, it has become the name of the current head temple. (yasurakaan.com)
Upon entering the temple grounds, the first thing that catches the eye is the Daimon (Great Gate). This magnificent vermilion gate was rebuilt in 1705, and the statues of Kongorikishi (guardian deities) standing on either side welcome visitors. Passing through this gate, one leaves behind the bustle of daily life and enters a world enveloped in tranquility and sanctity. (gosyuin-meguri.com)
Proceeding further, the Danjo Garan appears. This is the spiritual center of Koyasan and the first place Kukai developed. Important buildings such as the Konpon Daito (Great Pagoda) and Kondo (Main Hall) stand in a row, and the figures of training monks can also be seen. In particular, the Konpon Daito is a multi-storied pagoda built as a symbol of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, reaching a height of 53 meters. (templebell.net)
In one corner of the Danjo Garan stands a pine tree called “Sanko-no-Matsu.” According to legend, when Kukai returned from Tang China, he threw a sankosho (three-pronged vajra) in search of a suitable place to spread Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, and it was found caught in this pine tree. This anecdote became the catalyst for the founding of Koyasan. (wakayama-rekishi100.jp)
The main hall of Kongobu-ji is a shoin-zukuri style building reconstructed in 1863 (Bunkyū 3), boasting a width of 54 meters east to west and 63 meters north to south. The roof is made of cypress bark, and a rainwater tank is installed on top. This was devised to sprinkle water on the roof in case of fire to prevent the spread of flames, reflecting Koyasan’s history of battling fires. (yasurakaan.com)
Inside the main hall, there are many highlights, such as the grand hall decorated with fusuma (sliding door) paintings of pines and flocks of cranes, said to be by Kano Motonobu, and the “Plum Room” with fusuma paintings of plum blossoms, moon, and flowing water, attributed to Kano Tanyu. In addition, the Banryutei, one of the largest rock gardens in Japan, expresses a giant dragon swimming in a sea of clouds with white sand and rocks, and its grandeur is overwhelming. (yasurakaan.com)
The approach to Okunoin stretches about 2 kilometers and is lined with over 200,000 gravestones and monuments. Here lie the graves of famous warlords from history, such as Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, evoking the atmosphere of the Warring States period. At the innermost part of Okunoin is the mausoleum where Kukai entered eternal meditation, and it is still believed that he continues to meditate there. Every day at 6:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., a ritual called “Shinboku” is performed, in which food is offered to Kukai. (zeall-llc.com)
In 2004, Koyasan was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site as part of the “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.” This was in recognition of Koyasan’s long historical role in Japanese religious culture and its high value as a place of faith harmonized with nature. (sekaiisan-wakayama.jp)
Visitors will surely find peace of mind and new insights in this place, where the beauty of nature in every season and the living history and faith coexist. Koyasan Kongobu-ji will undoubtedly continue to welcome many people as an eternal place of prayer, connecting the past, present, and future.