Enryaku-ji Monastery
1. Enryaku-ji Monastery
Enryaku-ji is the most significant Tendai monastery located on Mount Hiei in Ōtsu, overlooking Kyoto. It was founded in 788 during the early Heian period (794-1185).
The temple complex was established by Saichō (767–822), also known as Dengyō Daishi, who introduced the Tendai sect of Mahāyāna Buddhism to Japan from China.
Enryaku-ji is the headquarters of the Tendai sect and one of the most significant monasteries in Japanese history. As such, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto".
The founders of Jōdo-shū, Jōdo Shinshū, Sōtō Zen, and Nichiren Buddhism all spent time at the monastery.
Enryaku-ji is also the centre for the practice of Kaihōgyō (aka the "marathon monks").
2. History
With the support of Emperor Kammu, the Buddhist monk Saichō ordained 100 disciples in 807:
Maintaining a strict discipline on Mt. Hiei, his monks lived in seclusion for 12 years of study and meditation. After this period, the best students were retained in positions in the monastery and others graduated into positions in the government.
At the peak of its power, Enryaku-ji was a huge complex of as many as 3000 sub-temples and a powerful army of warrior monks (Sōhei).
In the 10th century, succession disputes broke out between Tendai monks of the line of Ennin and Enchin:
These disputes resulted in opposing Tendai centres at Enryaku-ji and at Mii-dera, known respectively as the Mountain Order (Sanmon) and the Temple Order (Jimon).
Warrior monks were used to settle the disputes, and Tendai leaders began to hire mercenary armies who threatened rivals and even marched on the capital to enforce monastic demands.
As part of a program to remove all potential rivals and unite the country, warlord Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) ended this Buddhist militancy in 1571 by attacking Enryaku-ji, levelling the buildings and slaughtering monks.
Enryaku-ji's current structures date from the late 16th century through the first half of the 17th century, when the temple was reconstructed following a change of government.
Only one minor building survived, the Ruri-dō ("Lapis Lazuli Hall"), which is located down a long, unmarked path from the Sai-tō complex:
The structure dates to the 13th century and was repaired twice during the 20th century following harsh weather.
During reconstruction, some buildings were transferred from other temples, notably Mii-dera, and thus the buildings themselves are old, though they have not always been at this location.
Today, most of Enryaku-ji's buildings are clustered in 3 areas:
1) Tō-dō ("East Pagoda")
2) Sai-tō ("West Pagoda
3) Yokokawa
The monastery's most important buildings are concentrated in Tō-dō.
Sai-tō is a 20-minute walk away, primarily downhill from Tō-dō, and also features several important buildings.
Yokokawa is more isolated and less visited, about a 1:30 hour walk, and is most easily reached by bus, which connects the 3 complexes and other locations on the mountain.