Mount Kōya (高野山, Kōya-san) is a large temple settlement in
Wakayama Prefecture,
Japan to the south of
Osaka. In the strictest sense, Mount Kōya is the mountain name (
sangō) of
Kongōbu-ji Temple, the ecclesiastical headquarters of the Kōyasan sect of
Shingon Buddhism.[1]
History
First settled in 819 by the monk
Kūkai, Mount Kōya is primarily known as the world headquarters of the Kōyasan
Shingon sect of
Japanese Buddhism. Located on an 800-meter-high plain amid eight peaks of the mountain, which was the reason this location was selected, in that the terrain is supposed to resemble a lotus plant, the original
monastery has grown into the town of
Kōya.
Koya features a university dedicated to religious studies and 120 sub-temples, many of which offer lodging to pilgrims. Mount Kōya is also a common starting point to the
Shikoku Pilgrimage (四国遍路, Shikoku Henro) associated with Kūkai.
Sites
The mountain is home to the following famous sites:
Kongōbu-ji (金剛峯寺), the head temple of the Kōyasan Shingon Buddhism. Located roughly in the middle of the sanctuary, Kongobuji is colloquially known as "Kōyasan-Issan", literally meaning "the mountain of Kōya". The temple was built by the warlord
Toyotomi Hideyoshi for the benefit of his mother when she died. Originally named Seigan-ji, it was later renamed Kongōbu-ji in the Meiji Era.[2]
Danjogaran (壇上伽藍), at the heartland of the Mount Kōya settlement. Garan[3] is a name for an area that has the main sacred buildings: a main hall, several pagodas, a scripture storage, a bell tower, a lecture hall, and other halls dedicated to important deities. There is also a shrine dedicated to the Shintō gods of that mountain area and in front of it an assembly hall (Sannō-dō). Danjō Garan is one of the two sacred spots around Mount Kōya.[4]
Konpon Daitō (根本大塔), the "Basic Great
Pagoda" that according to Shingon Buddhist doctrine represents the central point of a
mandala covering all of Japan. Standing at 48.5 meters tall and situated right in the middle of Kōyasan, this pagoda was built as a seminary for the esoteric practices of Shingon Buddhism. This pagoda and the Okunoin Temple form a large sanctuary.
Sannō-dō (山王堂), an assembly hall for special ceremonies dedicated to the Shintō gods guarding the area.
Okunoin (奥の院), the mausoleum of
Kūkai, surrounded by an immense graveyard (the largest in Japan).
Kōyasan chōishi-michi (高野山町石道), the traditional route up the mountain with stone markers (ishi) every 109 meters (chō).
Daimon (大門), the main gate for Mount Kōya.[5] This mammoth gate stands as the main entrance to Kōyasan. It is flanked on each side by Kongo warriors who guard the mountain.
Tokugawa Family Tomb. This mausoleum was built by the third shōgun
Iemitsu Tokugawa. It took ten years to build and is architecturally representative of the Edo Period. First Edo shōgun
Ieyasu is enshrined on the right and the second shōgun
Hidetada on the left. The structure is decorated with carvings and brass fittings.
The complex includes a memorial hall and cemetery honoring Japanese who were imprisoned or executed for committing
atrocities during World War II.[8]
Access
Kōya-san is accessible primarily by the
Nankai Electric Railway from
Namba Station (in Osaka) to
Gokurakubashi Station at the base of the mountain.
A cable car from Gokurakubashi ("Paradise Bridge") then whisks visitors to the top in 5 minutes. The entire trip takes about 1.5 hours on an express train or 2 hours by non-express.
Local automobile traffic can be very heavy on weekends until well into the evening. On weekdays, however, the mountain offers a pleasant drive followed by the excitement of reaching the monasteries lining the summit. Many Buddhist monasteries on the mountain function as hotels for visitors providing traditional accommodation with an evening meal and breakfast. Guest are also invited to participate in the morning services.
Buses
There is a bus which runs non-stop from
Kansai Airport to Mount Kōya, and it costs 2,000 yen (adult). The bus is operated by Kansai Airport Transportion and Willer Express.[9]
The Koyasan Marine Liner bus runs from
Wakayamakō Station to Okunoin Bus stop on Mount Kōya, and it costs 2250 yen (adult). The bus is operated by Daijū Bus - 大十バス.[10]
Climate
Climate data for Mount Kōya (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1979−present)
^As there are many temples with identical names, Chinese and Japanese temples are traditionally given additional "mountain names". These are no geographical designations. There is no mountain called Kōya-san in Japan.
^Garan is an abbreviation of sōgyaranma (僧伽藍摩), skr. saMghaaraama सँघाराम), meaning "garden of monks". In Japan it was later used for central areas of big temples such as Kōya-san.