Saidai-ji

Temple · Nara

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In short

Founded in the Nara period on Empress Shotoku’s vow for the protection of the state, one of the seven great temples of the southern capital, and rebuilt in the Kamakura period by the priest Eison.

The precinct of Saidai-ji in Nara. — 663highland / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)

Quick facts

Address: 1-1-5 Saidaiji Shibamachi, Nara

About this place

Saidai-ji is in Nara and is the head temple of the Shingon Ritsu school. It was founded in the Nara period on Empress Shotoku’s vow for the protection of the state, and holds the rank of one of the seven great temples of the southern capital. After lapsing for a time in the Heian period, it was rebuilt in the Kamakura period through the resolve of the priest Eison to raise up the Law and benefit the living. The temple’s own account names neither a principal image nor any benefit that may be prayed for.

Origin and history

Saidai-ji was founded in the Nara period on Empress Shotoku’s vow for the protection of the state, and holds the rank of one of the seven great temples of the southern capital.

After lapsing for a time in the Heian period, it was rebuilt in the Kamakura period through the resolve of the priest Eison to raise up the Law and benefit the living.

It is the head temple of the Shingon Ritsu school.

What it is locally associated with

Origin
Empress Shotoku’s vow
It was founded in the Nara period on Empress Shotoku’s vow for the protection of the state, and ranks among the seven great temples of the southern capital.
documented history
Origin
A lapse, then a rebuilding
After lapsing for a time in the Heian period it was rebuilt in the Kamakura period through the resolve of the priest Eison.
documented history
Power spot
Head temple of the Shingon Ritsu school
The temple is the head temple of the Shingon Ritsu school.
documented history

This temple has a gap in it. It lapsed for a time in the Heian period and was rebuilt in the Kamakura period through the resolve of the priest Eison — the temple says so itself. The great Nara temples can look like unbroken lines, and here is one recording its own interruption.

The founding was ordered by Empress Shotoku. Kasuga Taisha, also in Nara, transmits its own founding to the command of Empress Shotoku in 768. The same sovereign appears twice on this list, once at the start of a temple and once at the start of a shrine.

The temple states that it holds the rank of one of the seven great temples of the southern capital. Of those seven, Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji, Gango-ji, Yakushi-ji, Horyu-ji and this temple are already on this list — though so far this is the only one of them whose own page names the set.

The account gives no principal image and no benefit, and this page gives neither.

Claims and evidence levels 2

Saidai-ji was founded in the Nara period on Empress Shotoku’s vow for the protection of the state and ranks among the seven great temples of the southern capital. documented history
It lapsed for a time in the Heian period and was rebuilt in the Kamakura period by the priest Eison. documented history

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