皇桜満開 Sumeragi cherry blossom in full blooming

皇桜満開

皇桜　Sumeragi cherry tree (2018)

公式ホームページによれば～臨済宗大本山東福寺は、嘉禎二年（1236）に関白九條道家の発願により、藤原氏の氏寺として栄えていた法性寺内に伽藍を建立したことに始まる。東福寺の寺名は、東大寺・興福寺の奈良の二大寺から一字ずつ取ったもので、二十年近くの年月をかけ京都最大の大伽藍を造営し、開山に聖一国師（円爾弁円）を迎えた。その後相次ぐ火災のため、初期の伽藍の大部分を焼失するも、そのたびに見事な復興を遂げ、京都五山列せられるに相応しい名刹となった。勝林寺は東福寺の塔頭寺院の一つで、天文十九年（1550）に東福寺第二百五世住持であった「高岳令松」禅師によって、勝林庵として創建された。本山東福寺の鬼門(北方)に位置し仏法と北方を守護するところから、「東福寺の毘沙門天」と呼ばれている。～とあります。
ご住職の宇野様は芸術に深い造詣があり、このお寺の庭園は禅の心を表しているだけでなく美しくて芸術的です。ご本尊毘沙門天立像を含む仏像は秘仏で年に数回行かれる特別拝観の際しか参拝できません。
往古には東福寺の境内は桜などが多かったそうですが、有名な室町時代の画僧　明兆の涅槃図に感銘した将軍　足利義持は明兆に「希望の物を与える」と言ったそうです。 明兆は修行の妨げになる桜の伐採を望み、その代わりに植えられたのが楓だったそうです。つまり、この桜は貴重な一本ということになります。

皇桜　Sumeragi cherry tree (2013)

皇桜はヤマザクラという種類で一般的に花見でみるソメイヨシノの祖先の一つになります。日本固有の野生種であるためソメイヨシノと違って、長命、花と葉が同時に芽吹く、樹高が高くなる、花は木の上側に咲くという特徴があります。5年前　2013年（平成25年）に撮影した時に比べて大きくなっているのがよくわかります。これから更に成長すれば遠くからみてもわかるようになるかもしれません。
ソメイヨシノよりも少し遅く開花してもう少し長く開花していますので、春暖のころ参拝をかねてみにいってください。
お花見について詳しくはこちらを参照ください。
http://warabe-jp.blogspot.jp/2018/01/cherryblossom-viewing.html

勝林寺 ホームページ: http://shourin-ji.org/

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掲載内容の更新日2018年04月02日



Sumeragi cherry blossom in full blooming

皇桜　Sumeragi cherry tree (2018)

From the official homepage, Tofukuji, established in 1236, is the oldest Buddhist temple in Kyoto and the head temple of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism. Shourin-ji was founded as a sub-temple of Tofukuji in 1550 at the request of Kogaku Reisho, the 205th head priest of Tofukuji.
A master of this Buddhist priest of this temple is very interested in the art, so his Japanese garden is not only based on the Zen, but also that is beautiful and artistic. If you come this temple, you can be many temple experiences, ex. Zazen, Sutra and Buddha image copying etc. At throughout the year, groups of 8 or more people can view the concealed Bishamonten statue by appointment, this is what amazing experience for you.
The standing statue of Bishamonten Heian Period (794-1159), Height 145.7cm, as the main temple treasure.
One of the Four Heavenly Kings in Buddhism, Bishamonten has been revered as the God of Wealth and Victory since ancient times. This statue was found during the Edo Period (1603-1868) concealed above the ceiling of Tofukuji’s main hall, and it was subsequently ensconced in Shourin-ji. Worshipers pray to Bishamonten for prosperity, triumph, and protection against evil. This Buddhist statue is ordinarily closed to the public, except at New Year, and in spring (April during cherry blossom season) and fall (mid-November to early December).
Kisshoten is revered as the Goddess of Beauty and Prosperity, and is the wife of Bishamonten. The maple trees in front of Bishamon-do are so beautiful Kisshoten is thought to reside within, so they are referred to as Kissho Maples.
I had dedicated my work "Kissho Maples" to Shourin-ji Temple December 2014. If you visit during special viewing days, you can watch that with temple treasures.
There were many cherry trees in the precincts of Tofukuji Temple in ancient times. Master painter Kitsusan Myocho (1352-1431) was a Buddhist priest of Tofukuji Temple, and to be called the initiator of the Japanese black-and-white drawing. He had drawn a Dai-nehan-zu (large Nirvana painting) which was watched by the fourth Muromachi Shogunate brigadier forces, Yoshimochi Ashikaga. Because he was very impressed, he asked to Mincho "What are you want? ", but Mincho said that "I have never want to get nothing, but I want you to cut all of cherry trees in Tofukuji temple, because that is obstructive with Buddhism ascetic practices.” In other words this cherry tree is precious one of them around the Tofukuji temple.
Sumeragi cherry is not the Yoshino cherry (Cerasus ×yedoensis), but the mountain cherry (Cerasus jamasakura). They had hybridized the Oshima cherry (Cerasus speciosa): 37%, the rosebud cherry (Cerasus itosakura): 47%, the mountain cherry (Cerasus jamasakura): 11% and the others: 5% and had made the yoshino cherry. As for the characteristic of the mountain cherry is that longevity, high height of the tree, a leaf and a flower send out buds at the same time. Naturally the flower blooms to the forest crown in mountains because it is high height of the tree.

皇桜　Sumeragi cherry tree (2013)

It seems to me that has been bigger than 2013 picture. After few years, I think that will be bigger so as to be seen it from the remote place. Please come to watch it.

You can read the detail of "Cherry‐blossom viewing": http://warabe-jp.blogspot.jp/2018/01/cherryblossom-viewing.html

Shourinji Temple HP: http://shourin-ji.org/english/

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This page was last modified: April 2, 2018.