Login

Daigoji Temple

Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Cherry Blossom Party

Daigoji Temple in Kyoto was built in 874 and is divided into three parts: Kami-Daigo, Shimo-Daigo, and Sanbo-in. The Golden Hall and the Five-storied Pagoda inside the temple were built during the Heian period. Toyotomi Hideyoshi supported the renovation and expansion of the temple and held a grand cherry blossom viewing event here.

Daigoji Temple 醍醐寺 in Kyoto was built in 874, and consists of hilltop Kami-Daigo, Shimo-Daigo at the bottom of the hill, and Sanbo-in.

Originally, Daigoji Temple consisted of a few halls at the top of the mountain, which were dedicated to the statues of Kannon. In 907, by the order of Emperor Daigo, Yakushi Hall and the Godai Hall were added to the temple, forming the present size of Kami-Daigo (Upper Daigo).

Later, more buildings and halls were built at the foot of the hill, and the Kondo (Golden Hall) and Five-story Pagoda were built at that time, which is the present-day Shimo-Daigo (Lower Daigo). After the outbreak of the Onin Rebellion, almost all of Shimo-Daigo was destroyed in the war, and only the five-story pagoda has been preserved intact, which is not only Japan's Oldest Five-story Pagoda, but also the only building in Daigoji Temple today that has not been damaged or rebuilt.

Manywhere Trivia:
Many of the buildings in Japan that claim to be ancient were rebuilt in the Edo period (1603 to 1867), but the five-story pagoda at Daigoji is a rare exception.

Five-story Pagoda and Cherry Blossoms

In 1115, the 14th Head of Daigoji Temple, Monk Shokaku, not only completely renovated the buildings in Daigoji Temple, but also built an additional Sanbo-in 三宝院 next to Shimo-Daigo as a residence for the successive heads of the temple. In his twilight years, Toyotomi Hideyoshi supported the restoration and expansion of Daigoji Temple and was personally involved in the design and construction of the Sanbo-in Garden. Hideyoshi transplanted hundreds of cherry blossoms from all over Japan into Daigoji Temple and held a grand cherry blossom viewing event, and died five months later. The Daigoji Cherry Blossom Viewing Party became the last major event of the Great Unifier of Japan.