The 6th Great Treasure Exhibition - "The Genpei Period and Mount Koya" - Exhibit List
September 14, 1985～November 4
About me
In May of the fifth year of the Kyūan era (1149), the Great Pagoda of Mt. Koya was set ablaze by lightning. At the request of Prince Kakuho of Koyasan, who was residing on the mountain at the time, an imperial decree was given to immediately rebuild the pagoda, and Taira Tadamori was ordered to rebuild it. His son, Kiyomori, took over the task in his father's place, and the pagoda was completed in the first year of the Hōgen era (1156). The so-called blood mandala that Kiyomori had made at that time remains. Kiyomori died in the first year of the Yōwa era (1181), and the following year the Taira clan fled the capital, perishing at Dannoura in Nagato in March of the first year of the Bunji era (1185). Truly, the glory of the Taira clan was short-lived. This year marks 800 years since that date. In April of the following year, the second year of the Bunji era (1186), a memorial service for the vengeful spirits of the Taira clan was held at the Great Pagoda of Mt. Koya, which has ties to the Taira clan, by imperial decree of Emperor Goshirakawa. Ota Manor in Bingo was donated as temple land to cover the cost of Buddhist offerings and lamp oil.
A century later, through the efforts of Kaku, 180 Taizokai stones were erected from Jison-in Temple at the foot of Mount Koya to the top of Mount Koya, and 36 town stones (which, when combined with the Okuin Mausoleum, symbolize the 37 deities of the Kongokai) were erected between the Great Pagoda and the inner sanctuary of Mount Koya. This can also be seen as a three-dimensional mandala with Mount Koya as its inner sanctuary. A dedication ceremony was held in 1285, and a prayer for the dedication remains. This road is the oldest main approach to Mount Koya, and is a path of faith in Kobo Daishi. This year marks 700 years since the town stones were erected.
I believe that it is truly meaningful to exhibit the Buddhist paintings and documents related to the Heike clan and town stones, to commemorate the contributions that Mount Koya made to Japanese culture in the Middle Ages, and to celebrate the virtues of Kobo Daishi.
A century later, through the efforts of Kaku, 180 Taizokai stones were erected from Jison-in Temple at the foot of Mount Koya to the top of Mount Koya, and 36 town stones (which, when combined with the Okuin Mausoleum, symbolize the 37 deities of the Kongokai) were erected between the Great Pagoda and the inner sanctuary of Mount Koya. This can also be seen as a three-dimensional mandala with Mount Koya as its inner sanctuary. A dedication ceremony was held in 1285, and a prayer for the dedication remains. This road is the oldest main approach to Mount Koya, and is a path of faith in Kobo Daishi. This year marks 700 years since the town stones were erected.
I believe that it is truly meaningful to exhibit the Buddhist paintings and documents related to the Heike clan and town stones, to commemorate the contributions that Mount Koya made to Japanese culture in the Middle Ages, and to celebrate the virtues of Kobo Daishi.
September 14, 1985 Koyasan Reihokan Museum Director Tomonori Yamamoto