Monograph No. 19
No.19 TEMPLES AND MONASTERIES OF FUJIWARA FAMILY An Architectural Study （1968）
TEMPLES AND MONASTERIES OF FUJIWARA FAMILY
‐ An Architectural Study ‐
THE NARA NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CULTURAL PROPERTIES
NARA, 1968
CONTENTS
Page
CHAPTER I Introduction 1
CHAPTER II Monasteries around the Kofuku-ji Temple 9
CHAPTER III Fujiwara Family and the Enryaku-ji Temple 18
CHAPTER IV The Gokuraku-ji Temple, the Hoju-ji Temple and the Hokko-in Temple 23
CHAPTER V From The Hosho-ji Temple to the Tofuku-ji Temple 34
CHAPTER VI The Hojo-ji Temple by Michinaga Fujiwara 51
CHAPTER VII Other Temples by Michinaga Fujiwara 87
CHAPTER VIII Monasteries of the Byodo-in Temple 94
CHAPTER IX The Unrin-in(Uji) and the Chisoku-in Temple 107
CHAPTER X Halls of Amida (Amitabba) Buddha 113
English summary i
AN ARCHITECTURAL STUDY OF THE FUJIWARA FAMLY’S TEMPLES AND MONASTERIES
In the course of Japan’s architectural history it is clear that architectural styles were developed or modified under the influence of the principles and policies of individual rulers.
When the Emperors ruled the state by means of the ritsu-ryo (criminal, civil and government organization codes) magnificent edifices like Todai-ji (Grand Eastern Buddhist Temple) in Nara were built. When the Fujiwaras were in their heyday as Regents they erected numerous elegant temple structures, among which the Ho-o-do (Phoenix Hall) of Byodoin Temple is regarded as the most beautiful building of the period.
In the age of the ascendancy of the Buke (warriors) simple but majestic Zen (Dhyana sect) temples were constructed and also, in contrast to them, gorgeous and elaborate structures like the Toshogu Shrine at Nikko.
Architectural investigation of all these edifices remains to be done. Simple facts, such as those stated above, are widely known but more detailed knowledge is extremely scanty.
The structures least amenable to architectural investigation are the temple buildings and residences built by the Fujiwaras. The name Fujiwara appears in history about the middle of the 7th century when the Fujiwaras are seen as an influential family which acted in the role of official supreme adviser to the Emperor. After that time the Fujiwaras extended their influence over the country to reach the fullest extent of their power during the 10th and the beginning of the 11th centuries. During subsequent centuries, as documentary records attest, their descendants left their imprint on Japanese culture in a variety of fields. From major documents which have been preserved it can be seen that it was large-scale economic power which lay behind the Fujiwaras' building enterprise.
Kofukuji Temple was founded in the 8th century so that prayers might be offered there for the prosperity of the Fujiwaras. It was the family’s first tutelary temple, so designated because it celebrated the founder’s conversion to Buddhism. The temple buildings were destroyed by fire and reconstructed a number of times. The present buildings date from the 14th century.
To this Kofukuji Temple an annex called “In-ke” was added as a living quarter for the priests. This excellent structure was used by youngsters of the Fujiwara family who were qualified as Buddhist priests. The structural style of “In-ke” was influenced by the architectural style of common residences and in its turn influenced them. When the Fujiwara family built temples in Kyoto they also constructed "In-ke" as attached houses. These they used as villas and as places where they might devote them selves to the religious life.
In some cases these “In-ke” structures were granted the status of Buddhist temples. When this happened the “In-ke” in question became the tutelary temple of a particular branch of the family. A good example is Hojo-ji Temple founded by Michinaga (A. D. 966-1027), a most influential Fujiwara Yorimichi (992-1074), one of Michinaga’s sons, built Byodo-in Temple. In the precinct of this temple he constructed the hall known as Ho-o-do as a shrine for Amitabba Buddha. Byodo-in is an “In-ke” which, constructed as a villa, acquired the status of a Buddhist temple.
In the Amida-do of Hojo-ji Temple 9 images of Joroku Buddha are enshrined. According to the records of the temple many Buddhist halls were modelled after it. The hall of Joruri-dera is an extant example. This hall was constructed as an “In-ke” of Kofukuji Temple and was also used as a villa. The Fujiwara family finally built a great many temples, which they used as villas; but as a result of their confused ways of living, in both their worldly and their religious life, they came to feel the need of larger and larger residences which they duly built. It seems to me that those members of the Fujiwara family who while assisting the Emperor actually took over the reigns of government did so by means of the power that came to them through the construction of temples and residences. I would also say that they conducted the affairs of state solely that they might enjoy this construction.
昭和四十三年三月十日 発行
奈良国立文化財研究所学報 第十九冊
藤原氏の氏寺とその院家
