暗記は記憶力を鍛えるのに役立つと言われています。第198回の漢字は「とと」で、禅寺の塔頭寺院を意味します。頂上に寮を建てたとされ、実際に読み書きすることで漢字への理解を深められます。漢字の由来や大徳寺の歴史も紹介されました。大徳寺は京都にあり、室町時代に創建され、一休宗純が関わった歴史が豊富です。大徳寺は茶道や芸術の中心地として栄え、現在も多くの末寺が存在し、重要文化財として注目を集めています。
Do you ever feel like your memory fades away when you try to remember a kanji character but end up giving up with a “oh, forget it”? However, it is said that memorization helps improve memory.
In the 198th edition of “Kanji to Train Your Brain,” we introduce the character “トト.” It is an auxiliary temple of a Zen temple, which was actively built during the Muromachi period. Enhance your understanding of kanji by actually reading and writing it.
What does “トト” mean?
Do you know how to read “トト”? It’s not “ついに.” The correct answer is “タキウ.”
According to the “Shogakukan Digital Dictionary,” the explanation is, “In the Zen sect, after the death of a high priest, the disciples of the high priest built a detached temple on top of the tower over the grave to praise their virtues. It is said that the name was given because of this arrangement on top of the tower.”
The history of Daikaku-ji Temple
During the Muromachi period, it was common for a sub-temple to be built at the five mountains (Rinzai sect temples). Daikaku-ji Temple is a temple located in Kita Ward, Kyoto City, and is one of the temples counted among the five mountains. Although Daikaku-ji Temple is famous for being presided over by Ikkyu Sogen, it is also a temple with many sub-temples to this day.
Daikaku-ji Temple was founded by the military commander Norimura Akamatsu at the end of the Kamakura period. In 1333, it was favored by Emperor Go-Daigo and was ranked as one of the five mountains. However, during the Muromachi period, the third shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, supported the Ansho Ishoku sect and came into conflict with Daikaku-ji Temple.
As a result, the status of Daikaku-ji Temple declined, and it decided to withdraw from the five mountain sect itself. Daikaku-ji Temple sharply criticized the close relationship between the shogunate and the five mountain sect and established its own position in Zen meditation. It was during this time that Ikkyu Sogen, known as “Ikkyu-san,” became the head priest and spread the Daikaku-ji Zen sect to Sakaimachi.
The teaching activities of Ikkyu were successful, and Daikaku-ji Temple, which was destroyed in the Onin War, was rebuilt by wealthy merchants in Sakai and powerful warlords such as Oda Nobunaga. Also, since Shuko Murata, the founder of Wabi-cha, visited Ikkyu for Zen training, Daikaku-ji Temple received support from tea enthusiasts.
Subsequently, arts such as tea ceremony and flower arrangement became popular among the princes, and support for Daikaku-ji Temple related to the tea ceremony also increased. The princes consecutively established sub-temples of Daikaku-ji Temple, and in the Edo period, it is said that there were as many as 56 sub-temples.
Daikaku-ji Temple reached its peak due to the fervent faith of the princes. However, in the Meiji era, due to the rising trend of anti-Buddhist activities, the sub-temples were demolished. Nevertheless, 24 sub-temples still exist, and Daikaku-ji Temple, known as a treasure trove of important cultural properties, attracts attention.
How was it? Did the introduction of “トト” help expand your knowledge of kanji? Daikaku-ji Temple has many famous national treasures and gardens in its remaining sub-temples. Some of the sub-temples are open to the public, so visiting during a long holiday might be a good idea.
Article by Mafo Toyota (Kyoto Media Line)
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