Kyoto Japan | Kodaiji Temple & Gardens

Kodai-ji Temple

The Kodaiji Temple was founded during the Momoyama-period, by Toyotomi Nene to commemorate the death of her husband. Nene was the widow of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536 to 1598), the powerful general who succeeded in unifying Japan at the end of the 16th century.

Kodai-ji Temple and the Kodai-ji sho Museum is located in the Kodaiji district east of Gion, along the 'Higashiyama Path,' (aka "Nene Street) which connects the Yasaka Shrine with Ninenzaka and the Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

The Kodai-in villa, and the Kita-teien, or 'North Garden' were originally built by Toyotomi Nene as a residence compound for the Fushimi castle. When Hideyoshi died in 1598, Kodai-in and its garden were relocated from Fushimi to the present site, and the construction of the 'Kodai-jn' temple began in 1603.

The temple was constructed with the assistance of feudal lord Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543 to 1616), and other daimyo, when Toyotomi Nene entered the priesthood.

Within the Kaizando 'memorial hall,' there are carved wooden images of Toyotomi Hideyoshi with his wife Nene. Behind the memorial hall is the Otamaya, a small mausoleum that is dedicated to Hideyoshi and Nene.

Kobori Enshu's Kodai-ji Gardens

At the Kodai-ji temple there are several formal gardens designed by Kobori Enshu (1579 to 1647), who was an architect and master Zen-gardener, as well as a master of calligraphy, poetry, and the Chado tea ceremony.

Enshu's 'north garden' at Kodaiji is a Tsukiyama, or 'constructed mountains' garden is a 'tortoise and crane' garden design, with the turtle and crane as symbols of long life and happiness. The turtle island is to the south (photo, above), while the crane island is to the north.

Kodaiji's 'south garden' is a karesansui, or 'dry rock garden' that is a more recent creation, featuring a large area of raked gravel that is punctuated by conical gravel formations, and surrounded by an undulating border of moss and stone. The raked gravel of a karesansui is meant to evoke the ripple patterns that form in water.

Traditionally, a karesansui garden is intended to be viewed from a single, seated perspective. During the cherry blossom season in April, and the 'red maple leaf' season in October, Kodaiji's south garden has an evening illumination show called the "Four Seasons of Kyoto."

To the west, uphill from the Temple and gardens, are two famous teahouses designed by Sen no Rikyu at ; Kasa-tei and Shigure-tei, or "umbrella cottage" shown in the photo above. The adjacent Ryozen Kannon can bee seen through the trees to the south (photo: below, right).

Kodaiji Cemetery

Satellite Image of Kodaiji Cemetery

Kodaiji Temple Website