Located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City, Daigoji Temple was established in 874 during the early Heian period by Shobo, a Buddhist monk later known by his posthumous name Rigen Daishi (the Great Master of Holy Treasures). Since then, it has played an important role on the center stage of history, becoming a source of spiritual guidance for members of the Imperial family, nobility, and samurai as a central temple for esoteric Buddhist teachings of the Shingon sect. Daigoji Temple consists of two temple complexes: Kami-Daigo (the upper part of Daigo, situated on the mountain), and Shimo-Daigo (the lower part of Daigo, situated at the foot of the mountain. This combination gives Daigoji both mountain and temple characteristics, and it became associated with prayer for the nation’s peace and security and with prayer for rain and many other types of prayer and petition. From the early Edo period, the temple also developed into a center for the ascetic practices of Shusendo. This exhibition, the first large-scale show in Osaka to present some ninety carefully selected treasures under one roof, including fourteen National Treasures and forty-seven Important Cultural Properties, that have come into the possession of Daigoji Temple, consists of three sections—“Daigoji, a Mountaintop Temple,” “A Center of Esoteric Buddhist Rituals,” and “Upholder of Momoyama-period Culture”—as well as corner exhibitions presenting characteristics of Daigoji Temple—“Carrying On the Esoteric Dharma,” “Esoteric Buddhist Ritual Implements: Mysterious Forms,” “A Shugendo Temple,” “Carrying on Shobo’s Teaching: The Spirit of the Combined Study of Esoteric and Exoteric Buddhism,” and “Modern and Contemporary Art at Daigoji.” The show is a precious opportunity to gain an overview of the temple’s history and art, including adorning with flowers the temple treasures much loved by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his wife Kita no Mandokoro, who celebrated them with cherry blossoms.
Information about the Exhibition
〈Dates〉
June 15 – August 25, 2024
〈Closed on〉
Mondays, July 23
*Open on July 15, August 12
〈Opening hours〉
10:00 – 17:00 (last entry 16:30)
〈Venue〉
Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka 4F Galleries
〈Organizers〉
Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, Daigoji Temple, Nikkei Inc., Television Osaka, Inc.
〈Sponsors〉
ITO EN, LTD., AIR WATER INC., Osaka Shoko Shinkin Bank, Saraya Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd., DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., Daiwa Securities Group
〈Cooperation〉
Nara National Museum
〈Supervisor〉
NAITO sakae (Director, Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts)
