Saimyoji (Takao)
京都府
Mid-Takao Sanbi Shingon temple founded by Kukai's disciple Chisen, enshrining a Seiryoji-style Shakyamuni attributed to Unkei
Founded
824
Type
Temple
Visited
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Access
About 5 min walk from Makinoo bus stop (JR Bus); about 10 min walk from Takao bus stop if using Kyoto City Bus
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Overview
A Shingon (Daikakuji branch) temple founded during the Tencho era (824–834) by Chisen Daitoku, a senior disciple of Kobo Daishi Kukai, as a sub-temple of Jingoji. Located at Makio, one of the Takao Sanbi (three temples of Takao, Makio, and Togano-o), it is renowned for its autumn foliage. The principal image, a standing Shakyamuni Buddha in the Seiryoji style, is an Important Cultural Property sai…
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Origins
Saimyoji is said to have been founded during the Tencho era (824–834) by Chisen Daitoku, a senior disciple of Kobo Daishi Kukai, as a sub-temple of Jingoji on the site of Makio. Chisen was a distinguished monk trained directly under Kukai, and the temple was established as a center of Shingon Buddhi…
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Divine Benefits
Warding Off Evil
Purification
Rebirth in Pure Land
Averting disaster, directional protection, warding off epidemics. Central at Fudo, Kannon, and Gion-related sites.
Derived from the enshrined deity "釈迦如来"
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