Yasaka Pagoda
| Yasaka Pagoda | |
|---|---|
八坂の塔 | |
The Yasaka Pagoda as seen from Yasaka-dori | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Zen Buddhism |
| Sect | Kennin-ji Rinzai |
| Location | |
| Location | Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto |
| Country | Japan |
Shown within Kyoto Prefecture Yasaka Pagoda (Japan) | |
| Coordinates | 34°59′55″N 135°46′45″E / 34.99855°N 135.77925°E |
| Architecture | |
| Established | 7th century |
| Completed |
|
The Yasaka Pagoda (Japanese: 八坂の塔, romanized: Yasaka-no-to), also known as the Tower of Yasaka, is a Buddhist pagoda located in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan.[1] The 5-story tall pagoda is the last remaining structure of a 6th-century temple complex known as Hōkan-ji (法観寺).[2][3] It was founded by the Goguryeo clan that established in Japan, and is the oldest temple in Kyoto.[4] The pagoda is now a tourist attraction.[5]
History
Archaeological evidence dates the foundation of the Yasaka Pagoda to the 7th Century. The founding date is disputed between the reign of Prince Shotoku and the sixth year of the Tenmu period (678 CE).[6] The pagoda and the associated temple were destroyed and reconstructed several times up to 1440, of which the current pagoda stands to this day.
Control of the pagoda was historically disputed between the nearby Shinto Gion Shrine and the Buddhist temple of Kiyomizu-dera, to the point the pagoda was burnt down in May 1179.[6] It was later rebuilt in 1191 with funding from Kawachi Genji noble Minamoto no Yoritomo. In 1240, the head priest of the nearby Buddhist temple of Kennin-ji affiliated the pagoda with Zen Buddhism, which remains the official designation of the Yasaka Pagoda to the present day.
See also
References
- ^ Oevermann, Heike; Gantner, Eszter (8 August 2019). Securing Urban Heritage: Agents, Access, and Securitization. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-62435-3.
- ^ "Hokan-ji Temple". Kyoto City Official Travel Guide. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ "Yasaka-no-to Pagoda". Inside Kyoto. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ "八坂の塔, 京で最古の五重塔" [Yasaka Pagoda, The oldest five-story pagoda in Kyoto]. www.gion.or.jp. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ^ Jenkins, Mark. "Why your next vacation should be in Japan". Washington Post. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Historic site Hokanji precincts" (PDF) (in Japanese). Kyoto City Archaeological Research Institute. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2021.