Raw data
“The area where the temple is now was in fact a forestry and lumber collection and distribution centre for the express purpose of building the Todaiji Temple in Nara that housed the Great Buddha. The priest Roben Sōjō (689-773) was appointed as the superintendent of this project and was active in organising the necessary timber requirements for the project from a government office called “Ishiyama”. The gold that was found in the north of the country needed to travel many thousands of kilometers, and this office was also a collection point for the gold. From 761 until 767, this site was used for this purpose. Because Todaiji was a Kegon Buddhist temple, Ishiyamadera was also originally a Kegon temple, but as time went by, it became a Shingon Buddhist temple instead.”
“The location is also linked to the Nara era (710 - 794) Horanomiya Imperial Palace which was thought to have existed on or near this site.”
Ishiyama-dera's tahōtō (stupa/pagoda) dates to 1194 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahōtō
- “History of Ishiyamadera” http://sacredjapan.com/Temple%2013/History13.htm
Input by: Lizbeth H. Piel, July 10, 2012
Final data (and their sources)
Last updated: 26 Apr 2013
Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.
General location of the Ishiyamadera monastery, JP.
lat=34.960419 long=135.905625
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2012.
Google Map link:
Final data - explanatory notes
1. Monastery's name
- Ishiyamadera 石山寺. Alternative English spelling: Ishiyama-dera
2. Monastery's modern country & province
- Japan: Shiga Prefecture
3. Monastery's alternative/historical names
- Setsukôzan - Uryû (2003: 236)
- Sekikôzan - http://sacredjapan.com/Temple%2013/General13.htm
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Approx., Lat 34.960419 Long 135.905625 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishiyama-dera
5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries
- Daigôji monastery
6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village
- Ôtsu-shi (city), Ishiyamadera
7. The settlement's alternative/historical names
- Formerly called Ishiyama-machi, the settlement became part of Ôtsu City in 1933 - Nihon chimei jiten (1998: 91)
8. The settlement's coordinates
- Approx., Lat 35.016667 Long 135.85 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ōtsu,_Shiga
9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition
- Mahayana
10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition
- Shingon -Uryû (2003: 236)
- First Kegon, then Shingon - http://sacredjapan.com/Temple%2013/History13.htm
- Shingon Tôji sect headquarters - http://sacredjapan.com/Temple%2013/General13.htm
11. Date-early
- Founded 749 - Uryû (2003: 236)
- Constructed 762 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishiyama-dera
- MBM chrono-tag: 0733-66c - tmciolek 26 Apr 2013
- 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32c 1033-66c 1067-99c 1100-32c 1133-66c 1167-99c 1200=> dated-el
12. Date-intermediate
- “The Tahoto Pagoda (treasure tower) was built by Minamoto Yoritomo in 1194 in the Kamakura period, and is the oldest of its type in Japan”- http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/shiga/ishiyamadera.html
13. Date-late
- “The Raidō, which is the large multi-tiered structure extending over the hillside was completed in 1602, and is also heritage listed as a National Treasure” -http://sacredjapan.com/Temple%2013
- MBM chrono-tag: 1200=> - tmciolek 26 Apr 2013
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
- It is the 13th temple in the Shingon network of 33 temples for the Saigoku (Kansai) Kannon Pilgrimage -Uryû (2003: 236)
- It was connected to Tôdaiji through the timber and gold trade -http://sacredjapan.com/Temple%2013/History13.htm
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
- Documents, architecture
16. Additional notes
- Murasaki Shikibu is believed to have begun writing the Genji Monogatari (early 11th century) at Ishiyamadera.
- Main object of worship is the Nyoirin (wish-granting) Kannon
17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by
- [missing data]
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