Ishiyamadera Temple

JAPAN, Shiga, Otsu

Ishiyamadera, or Stone Mountain Temple, is the head temple of the Toji branch of the Shingon school of Japanese Buddhism. It is the 13th of the 33 Avalokitesvara temples of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage of southern-central Japan. At the request of Emperor Shomu (reigned 724–749), monk Ryoben constructed the temple, which is well known for its structural features from the Heian period (794–1185). Although the temple suffered from several disasters, it avoided destruction as a result of imperial patronage.
The principal buildings include the main hall, Lotus Hall, Great Eastern Gate, founder’s hall, Vaisravana Hall, Dharma Wheel Hall, Prabhutaratna Pagoda and Mahakala Hall. The main hall has a separate space for worship; such a hall with dual functions is rarely found in the Heian period. The seven-by-four bay main hall was built in 1096, while the nine-by-four bay worship space was built in 1602 during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. The main hall and the adjacent worship space are situated on the upper part of a cliff and are supported by a giant pillar that extends all the way from the ground. A cabinet on the Sumeru altar in the worship space contains a statue of Cintamanicakra Avalokitesvara seated in half lotus position. The hall has a coffered ceiling. The temple houses illustrated scrolls depicting the origins of Ishiyamadera. This collection, painted by Tosa Mitsunobu, includes a total of seven scrolls in 33 sections. The 3 m long illustration of the Buddha entering parinirvana is a work of art from the middle Kamakura period (1185–1333) and is listed as an Important Cultural Property.