The 13th Great Treasure House Exhibition - "Treasures of the Heian Period" - Exhibit List
July 10, 1992~August 30
Greetings
This year marks the 1,150th anniversary of the death of Emperor Saga, who passed away on July 15th in the 9th year of the Jowa era (842). A memorial service for the 1,150th anniversary of Emperor Saga's death will be held for three days starting on July 14th.
Emperor Saga was born on September 7, 786 (the 5th year of the Enryaku era) as the second son of Emperor Kanmu.
Emperor Saga was born on September 7, 786 (the 5th year of the Enryaku era) as the second son of Emperor Kanmu.
In February of the same year (799), he came of age at the age of 14.
In May of the first year of the Daido era (806), at the age of 21, he became the Crown Prince, and on April 13th of the fourth year of the Daido era (809), at the age of 24, he succeeded to the throne as the 52nd Emperor.He established a new national system and the Kōnin culture, and passed away on July 15th of the 9th year of the Jowa era (842), at the age of 57.
The connection between Emperor Saga and Kobo Daishi was deep, and they shared a friendship not only in religion and faith but also in the areas of calligraphy, art, Chinese poetry, and other literary arts.
With the wise decision of the Emperor, Mount Koya was bestowed upon him in 816 as a training ground for Zen meditation. Since then, the Great Master surrounded the mountain, which resembles an open lotus flower with eight petals, with a boundary of seven ri on all sides. He wished to build a training ground for protecting the nation and benefiting the world and the people, as well as a place of Zen meditation for many practitioners, and gradually built pagodas, temples, and other buildings there.
It developed with the times, and was devoutly worshipped by the Imperial Court, aristocrats, military commanders, and ordinary people, and as a place of spiritual support and peace for the people, the tradition of the flame of the Dharma was passed down from master to master.Though it has undergone many changes and deterioration, it is thanks to Emperor Saga and Kobo Daishi that Mount Koya exists as it is today.
The connection between Emperor Saga and Kobo Daishi was deep, and they shared a friendship not only in religion and faith but also in the areas of calligraphy, art, Chinese poetry, and other literary arts.
With the wise decision of the Emperor, Mount Koya was bestowed upon him in 816 as a training ground for Zen meditation. Since then, the Great Master surrounded the mountain, which resembles an open lotus flower with eight petals, with a boundary of seven ri on all sides. He wished to build a training ground for protecting the nation and benefiting the world and the people, as well as a place of Zen meditation for many practitioners, and gradually built pagodas, temples, and other buildings there.
It developed with the times, and was devoutly worshipped by the Imperial Court, aristocrats, military commanders, and ordinary people, and as a place of spiritual support and peace for the people, the tradition of the flame of the Dharma was passed down from master to master.Though it has undergone many changes and deterioration, it is thanks to Emperor Saga and Kobo Daishi that Mount Koya exists as it is today.
I would like to offer my heartfelt gratitude in return.
To mark the 1,150th anniversary of Emperor Saga's death, the Koyasan Reihokan Museum will hold a special exhibition, "Treasures of the Heian Period," and will display some of its treasures. We hope that this exhibition will provide an opportunity for visitors to rediscover the deep relationship between Emperor Saga and Kobo Daishi, as well as the colorful culture that was rooted in the religion of that era.
To mark the 1,150th anniversary of Emperor Saga's death, the Koyasan Reihokan Museum will hold a special exhibition, "Treasures of the Heian Period," and will display some of its treasures. We hope that this exhibition will provide an opportunity for visitors to rediscover the deep relationship between Emperor Saga and Kobo Daishi, as well as the colorful culture that was rooted in the religion of that era.
July 10th, 1992
Takamine Takeuchi, Chief Abbot of the Koyasan Shingon sect and Head Priest of Kongobu-ji Temple