A stone’s silent story waits to be told here at the 法勝寺九重塔跡 Stele. What secrets does this marker hold about a temple long gone?
This 法勝寺九重塔跡 Stele marks the spot of the 法勝寺 nine-storied pagoda. 法勝寺 was one of six temples called the “Six Victorious Temples”. These temples enjoyed imperial support. Emperor Shirakawa founded 法勝寺 in 1077. It became the most important of the six temples.
Imagine 法勝寺 in its prime. The 法勝寺 complex included a golden hall an eight-cornered nine-storied pagoda and an Amida hall. The pagoda was impressive. It soared over 80 meters high. People believed it displayed Kyoto’s power toward Hokkaido.
The pagoda suffered damage. Lightning struck it repeatedly from 1185 onward. It was repaired and rebuilt. A major fire destroyed it completely in the 14th century.
This 法勝寺九重塔跡 Stele was erected in 1915 by the Kyoto City Education Association. Tanaka Tomiko donated the land. The stele indicates the 法勝寺 nine-storied pagoda site.
Today you can find this stele in Okazaki Hosshojicho within the Kyoto City Zoo. The zoo occupies the southern half of the former 法勝寺 grounds. Excavations have unearthed building remains and garden ponds. These finds hint at the temple’s former grandeur.
Explorations revealed how builders created a firm base. They dug down about 1.5 meters. They layered large stones and clay. This created a stable foundation.
Long thin stones were also discovered. These stones may have formed part of the pagoda’s base. When two are combined they form an angle of about 135 degrees.
The 法勝寺 symbolized power. Emperor Shirakawa built it. Today only this 法勝寺九重塔跡 Stele remains. It silently marks a once magnificent structure. The 法勝寺 nine-storied pagoda is gone but not forgotten.