Daitokuji Temple

A Great Zen Temple of Murasakino Founded by Shuho Myocho

The Daitokuji Temple (大徳寺, Daitokuji) is a Zen temple founded by Shuho Myocho (1282 to 1337) in Murasakino Daitokuji-cho, Kita Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, whose Momoyama Karamon gate was designated a National Treasure in 1952; its head temple buildings, including the hojo and entrance (National Treasures), the imperial messenger gate and the bell tower are also designated.

According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the hojo of the head temple was rebuilt in 1636, with an unusual plan of eight rooms and the Unmon-an attached. The Agency notes its simple, clear and unified design and calls it an example of an early modern Zen hojo.

The precinct contains many sub-temples; the buildings of sub-temples such as Daisen-in and Ryokoin are described on their own group pages.

The Karamon, Imperial Messenger Gate and Bell Tower

According to the Agency, the Karamon is said to have been a gate of Hideyoshi's Jurakudai palace, given in the Tensho era (1573 to 1592) to Murakami Suo no Kami, who donated it, though there is no firm evidence. An 1891 plan shows it facing east west of the imperial messenger gate; it was moved to the site of the Akechi gate when that gate went to Konchi-in, and now faces south as the front gate of the hojo.

The Agency records the imperial messenger gate as a Momoyama four-legged gate of the same form as the Karamon, gabled with cusped eave gables front and back and a cypress-bark roof. The bell tower is a Momoyama building three bays by two with a flared skirt wall, hip-and-gable with a tile roof, designated with two ridge tags.

A Karamon Representative of the Momoyama Period

The Agency describes the Karamon as lavishly carved throughout yet free and spontaneous rather than exaggerated in form, a building representative of the Momoyama period.

Around the head temple stand the Karamon facing south before the hojo, the imperial messenger gate and the bell tower, all of the Momoyama period.

Visiting Daitokuji

No official visitor information for the head temple could be found.

Please check Daitokuji's announcements before visiting.