The Universe of Daigoji

Special Exhibition : Commemorating the National Treasure
Designation of 70,000 Historic Documents and Sacred
Texts of Daigoji Temple
The Universe
of Daigoji
— Esoteric Buddhist
Imagery and Sacred Texts
7 19
9 15
2014. .
.
［Sat］
［Mon］
Closed on Mondays (with the exception of July 21,
August 11, and September 15) and July 22
Exhibition hours: 9:30 AM- 6:00 PM
(last admission 5:30 PM)
Special extended hours: On Fridays and August 5-14,
open until 7:00 PM (last admission 6:30 PM)
Organizers: Nara National Museum,
DAIGOJI temple, NIKKEI Inc.
Co-Organizer: NHK Nara Broadcasting Station
Additional Supporters: Agency of Cultural Affairs,
NARA TELEVISION CO., LTD.
Corporate Sponsors: Iwatani Corporation, ORIX Corporation,
THE BANK OF KYOTO, LTD.,
SUMITOMO FORESTRY CO., LTD.,
DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.
In Cooperation with
ASAHI MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
NIPPON KŌDŌ CO., LTD.,
NIPPON EXPRESS CO., LTD.,
Bukkyō Bijutsu Kyōkai (Buddhist Art Foundation)
Exhibition Website: http://daigoji.exhn.jp
50 Noboriōji-chō, Nara Japan 630-8213
NTT Hello Dial 050-5542-8600 (from within Japan)
Important Cultural Property, Seated Miroku bosatsu (Sk. Maitreya) by Kaikei, Daigoji temple
Background image: Important Cultural Property, Bugaku Dancers by Tawaraya Sōtatsu, Daigoji temple
◉ Daigoji engi (Karmic Origins of Daigoji Temple)
◎ Gilt-bronze, five-pronged vajra bell
(Jp. gokorei)
◉ Seated Yakushi Nyorai (Sk. Bhaiṣajyaguru)
Special Exhibition : Commemorating the National Treasure Designation of
70,000 Historic Documents and Sacred Texts of Daigoji Temple
The Universe of Daigoji
◉ Monju (Sk. Mañjuśrī) Crossing the Sea
◎ Taigen Myōō (Sk. Avataka)
— Esoteric Buddhist Imagery and Sacred Texts
The history of Daigoji temple began when the monk Shōbō, who was posthumously called Great
Master Rigen, enshrined statues of Juntei and Nyoirin, two esoteric Buddhist forms of the bodhisattva
Kannon, atop Mt. Kasatori in the Yamashina area of Kyoto. Thereafter, the temple complex developed into
the center of the Ono lineage of the Shingon tradition of esoteric Buddhism in Japan.
Daigoji has maintained profound links to Nara over its long history. In his youth, the founder,
Shōbō, studied at Tōdaiji temple in Nara, and Chōgen, the head of the campaign to rebuild Tōdaiji during
the Kamakura period, was from Daigoji. In addition, the Tōzan school of Shugendō, whose mountain
ascetic practices are conducted in the Yoshino region of Nara prefecture, reveres Shōbō as the patriarch who
revived their tradition at Mt Ōmine in Yoshino. As a result, the Sanbō-in, sub-temple of Daigoji, which
was associated with the nobility and the imperial house, became the head of the Tōzan school.
The details of the history of Daigoji temple can be understood through the sacred writings (shōgyō)
that record the results of esoteric rituals and studies of the doctrine, as well as ancient documents that
recount relations with influential political figures. Behind the vast collection of documents and sacred
writings that have been preserved for hundreds of years has been the extraordinary effort of the Buddhist
clergy at the temple. On this occasion, we are commemorating the designation of 69,378 items from the
temple’s archive of ancient documents and sacred writings as National Treasures in 2013 by hosting a
special exhibition that traces the history and art of Daigoji temple.
◉ National Treasure　◎ Important Cultural Property
All objects belong to Daigoji temple.
◎ Part of Daiitoku Myōō (Sk. Yamantaka)
from Godai Myōō (Five Great Wisdom Kings, Sk. Vidyārāja)
Exhibition Entrance Fees
Individual Advance ticket
Group
General admission
¥ 1,500
¥ 1,300
¥ 1,200
High school & University students
¥ 1,000
¥ 800
¥ 700
¥ 500
¥ 300
¥ 300
Elementary & Middle school students
*
*
*
Group sales apply to parties of 20 or more.
Certified handicapped visitors (and one escort) admitted free of charge.
Special Exhibition tickets provide admission to the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall and
the Ritual Bronzes Gallery. (The Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall will be closed from September 8.)
Access
* Advance tickets are sold until July 18(Fri.) at the ticket offices listed below.
Ticket counter of Nara National Museum, Kintetsu Travel Information Desk,
Kinki Nippon Tourist, JR TOKAI TOURS, NIPPON TRAVEL AGENCY
CO.,LTD, Ticket PIA [P-Code 988-878], Lawson Ticket [L-Code 52960],
To
ToKYŌTO
KYŌTO // ŌSAKA-NAMBA
ŌSAKA-NAMBA
Bus
BusStop
Stop
Ōmiyadori
ŌmiyadoriSt.
St.
Noborioji St.
KINTETSU-NARA
KINTETSU-NARA Noborioji St.
Station
Station
Sanjodori
SanjodoriSt.
St.
50 Noboriōji-chō, Nara Japan 630-8213
Seven-Eleven[Seven-Code 030-838], Community Network Play Guide,
E-Plus (http://eplus.jp)
Gangoji
GangojiTemple
Temple
Please check the exhibition website !
http://daigoji.exhn.jp
Located in Nara Park, 15 minutes’ walk east
from KINTETSU-NARA Station. From JR
Nara Station or KINTETSU-NARA Station,
take the City Loop Bus to “Himuro jinja/
Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan” bus stop.
Bus
BusStop
Stop
NTT Hello Dial:
050-5542-8600 (from within Japan)
http://www.narahaku.go.jp/english/index_e.html