Art of Mount Koya

The cultural assets accumulated at Mount Koya, which was founded by Kobo Daishi, are treasures from each period, spanning from the early Heian period to the Edo period. This time, the exhibit focused on the Kamakura period in particular.

For example, Yoritomo's third son, Sadaban, ascended to Mount Koya in 1207 and founded Isshin-in temple, and Yoritomo's wife, Masako (Nii Nyojin-ni), met Sadaaki on her way to Kumano for a pilgrimage, and three years later built Zenjo-in temple (Kongo Sammai-in) with the renowned monk Gyoyu as its chief priest, for Yoritomo's soul.

The pagoda built by Adachi Kagemori at the command of Nii Zenni still stands.

Kongo Sammaiin ruled over the Chikuzen Kayudasho area and flourished as a temple of learning, with a said number of 3,000 students.

The publication of the sutra commentaries for use by students through the assistance of Kagemori's grandson Yasumori was a historic event in cultural history, and is known as the Koyasan edition.

It is truly a pleasure to now be able to exhibit and open to the public a number of masterpieces from the Kamakura period and beyond.

August 1, 1985 Tomonori Yamamoto, Head of Koyasan Reihokan Museum