Toji Temple (Tō -ji) is a key temple to the history of ancient Heian-kyō; the present city of Kyoto, in the year 794.
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| Toji Temple |
The country's capital was moved from Heijo-kyō (present-day Nara) to Nagaoka-kyō in 784, to finally settle in Heian-kyō (present-day Kyoto) in 794. At that time the city saw very important changes in its urban planning and architecture. A large symmetrical grid of grid streets laid the foundations of Kyoto, and distributed the plane in parallel and perpendicular.
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| Toji Temple |
A large avenue, 84 meters wide, was located in the center of such a network of alleys, and divided the city in two. It came directly from the southern entrance to the Imperial Palace. On either side of this southern approach to the city stood two majestic guardian temples. The lost Saiji Temple (West Temple), and the current Toji Temple (East Temple), the seat of the Shingon school of Buddhist temples.
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| Toji Temple |
The Tallest Pagoda in Japan
Toji is today one of the symbols of the city, thanks to its monumental five-story pagoda. This was raised in 823 by the monk Kukai (kobo-daishi), thanks to the support of Emperor Saga. The Pagoda was rebuilt in 1644 by the Tokugawa clan, after a series of natural disasters. The structure is 54.8 meters high, and is the tallest wooden tower in Japan. It is followed by the Kofukuji pagoda in Nara, 50.1 meters.
Kobo-san Market
Monthly on the 21st, a large market is held on the temple grounds, known as Kobo-san. In it you can find all kinds of food, second-hand clothes and fabrics and kimonos. As well as traditional craft objects, and all kinds of prints, photographs and antiques.
World Heritage
The temple is included in the list of Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.