Kongō-ji

National Treasures

Landscape of the four seasons screens

Housed in the Kondō, the main sculptural group consists of seated statues of Dainichi Nyorai, Fudō Myōō and Trailokyavijaya and is partially a work of Gyōkai (行快), a disciple of Kaikei. The three sculptures were made of colored wood over a 50-year period with the Dainichi Nyorai dating to the late Heian period, c. 1180, and the Fudō Myōō from 1234, Kamakura period. They measure 313.5 cm (123.4 in) (Dainichi Nyorai), 201.7 cm (79.4 in) (Fudō Myōō) and 230.1 cm (90.6 in) (Trailokyavijaya) respectively. The groups appears in the Sonshō Mandala (尊勝曼荼羅) of Esoteric Buddhism. As a result of a large scale restoration and investigation in the Heisei period a writing in ink was found inside the womb of the statues, giving the date and author of Fudō Myōō. The group was subsequently, in 2017, designated as National Treasure.^[5][13]

The temple owns a pair of National Treasure mid-16th century Muromachi period, six-section folding screens (byōbu) known as Landscape of the four seasons (紙本著色日月四季山水図, shihon chakushoku jitsugetsu shiki sansui-zu). Drawn with ink and color on paper with gold leaf background, the screens measure 147.0 cm × 313.5 cm (57.9 in × 123.4 in) each. It is said that they were one of the utensils used in the esoteric kanjō (灌頂) ritual.^{[14][15][5][13]}

Now in custody at the Kyoto National Museum, one of few ancient jokotō swords has been transmitted at Kongō-ji. The blade is a straight double-edged unsigned tsurugi from the early Heian period. Its handle is in the shape of a Buddhist ritual implement, a pestle like weapon with three prongs (sanko). The sword was for ceremonial use and together with an acommpanying black lacquer mounting from the Kamakura period has been designated as a National Treasure. The blade is 62.2 cm (24.5 in) long, 3.3 cm (1.3 in) wide and has a 11.1 cm (4.4 in) long tang.^[16][17]

Two National Treasures of the Engishiki, a book about Japanese laws and customs compiled between 905 and 927, belong to the temple. Both are transcriptions from 1127, but as the original is lost, they represent the oldest extant copies of the work. One, known as the Kongō-ji edition, consists of three scrolls and contains volume 12 and fragments of volumes 14 and 16. The other is a single scroll of volumes 9 and 10 which contain a register of shrines in Japan.^[18][19][20]

Important Cultural Properties

In addition to the six structures mentioned above, Kongō-ji holds a number of Important Cultural Properties in the arts and crafts category.

Paintings

• Kōbō-Daishi, color on silk, from the Heian period^[21]
• Kokūzō Bosatsu, color on silk, Kamakura period^[22]
• Mandala of the Five Secrets (五秘密曼荼羅), color on silk, Kamakura period^[23]
• Sonshō Mandala (尊勝曼荼羅図), color on silk, Kamakura period^[24]

Sculpture

• an Asuka period bronze standing image of Kannon Bosatsu, now in custody at the Nara National Museum^[25]

• Heian period wooden seated images of the Five Great Buddhas enshrined in the Gobutsu-dō^[26]

• an early Kamakura period wooden seated image of Dainichi Nyorai on a lotos pedestal and a halo with 37 kebutsu (化仏), manifestations of nyorai in another body. The sculpture dates to between 1172 and 1192 and is enshrined in the tahōtō. It measures 80.4 cm (31.7 in) with its halo is 116.5 cm (45.9 in) high.^[27]

• a pair of Kamakura period wooden standing nitennō located inside the rōmon, dated to 1279.^[28]

Crafts

• a Kamakura period censer or incense burner made by gilted copper casting, measuring 36.0 cm (14.2 in) (total length), with a handle width of 2.1 cm (0.83 in) and a container measuring 8.1 cm (3.2 in) (height) by 10.3 cm (4.1 in) (diameter). The lid is thought to be a later addition and has a design with Japanese morning glory. The censer is in custody at the Tokyo National Museum.
• a Kamakura period lacquered wooden box with gilt bronze fittings from 1320, now in custody at the Nara National Museum. The box measures 36.3 cm × 12.7 cm × 14.0 cm (14.3 in × 5.0 in × 5.5 in) and was used for ordination documents.^[29]
• a Heian period small lacquer box, now in custody at the Kyoto National Museum. The box measures 27.4 cm × 41.2 cm × 19.0 cm (10.8 in × 16.2 in × 7.5 in) and is covered in lacquer with a design of sparrows in the field in makie-e technique. The inside is decorated with branches and plum blossoms.^[30]

• a set of haramaki and hizayoroi armour from the Muromachi and Nanboku-chō periods^[31]
• a Kamakura period cupronickel mirror with flowers and birds design^[32]
• a Kamakura period three-legged butterfly-shaped table with lotus arabesque, raden inlay and a semi-circular desk board. Made of lacquer covered wood with metal fittings. Height: 45.5 cm (17.9 in), 　desk: 38.5 cm × 21.3 cm (15.2 in × 8.4 in).^[33]
• a Heian period sutra box with lotus design in maki-e technique, now in custody at the Tokyo National Museum^[34]

Written materials

• a Heian period scroll of volume 8 of the Lotus Sutra with gilt letters on deep blue paper from 1148 by Fujiwara no Motohira.^[35]
• one Heian period scroll of the Hōkyōin-darani sutra written with gold paint on deep blue paper^[36]
• 12 volumes of the Nirvana sutra from the Kamakura period each with a postscript by Emperor Murakami from 1359^[37]
• one scroll of the Hōkyōin-darani sutra from the Heian period^[38]
• one scroll from the Heian period on Fugen's practice and vows^[39]
• an excess copy of the Chinese 7th century novel You Xian Ku produced in 1320. This folding book measures 25.5 cm × 16.2 cm (10.0 in × 6.4 in) and is noted as the oldest existing manuscript from the late Kamakura period. The end contains a description of the kunyomi transmission in reading.^[40]

Ancient documents

• a letter in Kusunoki Masashige's own handwriting expressing the desire to help in the defense of Kongō-ji which was rumoured to be attacked by the Kamakura shogunate after the failed attempt to take rulership over from the bakufu.^[41][10]