Kōsan-ji｜高山寺

The mountains of the Takao area have a long history of Buddhist asceticism, and it’s said that temples under the names of Togano’o-ji and Togano’o-bō existed in the area since 774 by imperial decree of Emperor Kōnin (709–782).  Though this cannot be dated precisely, Kōsan-ji’s history began more specifically in 1206 when a Kegon Buddhist priest named Myōe was given permission to establish a temple of his own in order to teach Kegon Buddhism by permission of Emperor Go-Toba. 

Myōe (1173–1232) took the temple’s “full” name from the Flower Garland Sutra, naming it Hiidetemazuterasukōsan-no-tera in order to evoke the line from the sutra that states “when the sun rises, that which is first illuminated is the highest of mountains”.  In the beginning of the Kamakura period Myōe was given tea seeds by the master Eisai (1141–1215) after his return from China and planted them at Kōsan-ji.  Though tea had come to country earlier, Myōe assisted with the popularizing of tea drinking culture from this plot, considered the first tea field in Japan.  It became so prolific that at that point in time only tea cultivated from the plants at Kōsan-ji was considered “true” tea, and the tea producing areas of Japan still pay homage to Kōsan-ji in recognition of this heritage. 

The monk Myōe led an interesting life, and his activities at Kōsan-ji were part of an intentional removal from the capital city in an attempt to seek further knowledge in Buddhism.  Myōe was a strict abbot who fought against corruption in Buddhist organizations, wrote treatises on various ways to enlightenment, and examined mantras, particularly the Mantra of Light.  He also found value in the cultivation of various pursuits such as art and expression, and held salons at the temple where noted persons of the age would gather to discuss such things.  It is due to these activities that Kōsan-ji possesses a wealth of relics that have survived the test of time, including eight National Treasures and over 10,000 Important Cultural Properties. 

Though the temple buildings were destroyed multiple times by fire, Sekisui-in dates to the Kamakura period, the main hall being a transfer from Ninna-ji in the 17^th century.  To this day Kōsan-ji continues Saint Myōe’s practice of cultural preservation and proliferation, lending out its numerous treasures to be displayed and studied by the public.