Ishiyama-dera (石山寺; "Stony Mountain Temple") is a temple of Shingon Buddhism in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It is the thirteenth temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage and is on the shore of Lake Biwa.
History
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It was constructed around 747, and is said to have been founded by Rōben, a foundational figure of Japanese Huayan. The temple contains numerous cultural assets. The temple possesses two fragments of manuscripts of the Shiji, the first of China's twenty-four dynastic histories, which are the only known extant fragments that predate the Tang dynasty (618–907).
According to literature available at the temple complex, the guardian carvings at Sanmon/Todaimon are by Tankei and Unkei. Allegedly, Murasaki Shikibu began writing The Tale of Genji at Ishiyama-dera during a full moon night in August 1004. In commemoration, the temple maintains a Genji room featuring a life-size figure of Lady Murasaki and displays a statue in her honor.[1]
The temple features as "The Autumn Moon at Ishiyama" (石山の秋月 Ishiyama no Shūgetsu) in the Eight Views of Ōmi thematic series in art and literature; examples include ukiyo-e prints by Suzuki Harunobu in the 18th century and Hiroshige in the 19th century.
See also
[edit]- Glossary of Japanese Buddhism - For an explanation of the terms on Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture.
- List of National Treasures of Japan (temples)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (ancient documents)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (writings)
References
[edit]- ^ "Ishiyama-dera Temple". Taleofgenji.org. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
Sources
[edit]Media related to Ishiyamadera at Wikimedia Commons
- Kōjien, 5th edition
34°57′37.51″N 135°54′20.25″E / 34.9604194°N 135.9056250°E