#attraction/temple [Seiryō-ji](http://seiryoji.or.jp) is a temple in [[Kyōto (京都市)]]. We walked here from [[Saga-Arashiyama (嵯峨嵐山)]]. > [!NOTE] Seiryoji Temple (Sagashakado Temple) > Seiryoji is a time-honored temple of the Pure Land sect of Buddhism. It is better known as Sagashakado (Hall of Shakyamuni Tatagata in Saga). > > Seikakan, the mountain villa of Minamoto-no-Toru, the model for Hikaru Genji, the hero of "Tale of Genji", was once located at this place. After his death, the villa was converted into Seikaji Temple, which is the origin of Seiryoji Temple. In 945, a life-size image of Shakyamuni Tathagata was enshrined. Thus, this temple is commonly called Sagashakado. > > Later, the high priest Chonen came back from China (Sung) with a standing image of Shakyamuni Tathagata, which had been brought to Japan from India via China. In order to enshrine the image, the priest planned to build a new temple to be called "Great Seiryoji Temple". Since he passed away without accomplishing his wish, his disciple, Jozan, established Seiryoji Temple and enshrined the image. > > In 1953, a covered space was found in the back of the image, and internal organs made of silk were placed inside. Since then, the image has been also called the living Shakyamuni Tathagata. > > The main hall was reconstructed at the initiative of the fifth Tokugawa Shogun Tsunayoshi, his mother, Keishoin, and others in 1701, where the principal image, the standing statue of Shakymuni lathagata (National Treasure), is located. The tombs of the high priest Chonen, Minamoto-no-Toru, Emperor Saga, and Empress Danrin are located in the precinct of the temple. ![[seiryo-ji IMG_5310.png]] ![[seiryo-ji IMG_5313.png]] ![[seiryo-ji IMG_7026.png]] We stumbled upon this temple while walking towards [[Adashino Nenbutsu-ji (化野念仏寺)]]. It was really hot that day. We mostly ended up stopping here for the shade and didn't actually explore too much of the temple grounds. ![[seiryo-ji IMG_7027.png]] ![[seiryo-ji IMG_7033.png]]