Ishiyama-dera

Hondō (Main Hall)
Tahōtō (Pagoda)

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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The autumn moon at Ishiyama (石山の秋月), by Hiroshige
At night during Koyo

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

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References

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  1. ^ "Ishiyama-dera Temple". Taleofgenji.org. Retrieved 28 February 2012.

Sources

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34°57′37.51″N 135°54′20.25″E / 34.9604194°N 135.9056250°E / 34.9604194; 135.9056250