I Never Knew: The Place Where Dogen Zenji Passed ...

[Jundo]

I was just told by a new Treeleaf member about something I never knew. Down in Kyoto there is a monument on a very ordinary street, tucked between shops and warehouses, of the place where Dogen Zenji passed from this world. I've been to Kyoto many times (I live up north of Tokyo), but never knew. Here it is. I will have to go pay respects on my next trip. The accompanying information plaque says ...
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　Born in Kyoto in 1200, Dogen became a monk on Mount Hiei and studied Zen at Kenninji Temple under the Eisai gate. He then traveled to Song China in 1223. After returning to Japan, he stayed at Kenninji Temple, but later built Koshoji Temple in Fukakusa (later moved to Uji) and continued his missionary work. In his later years, he fled the powers that be and founded Eiheiji Temple in Echizen (Fukui Prefecture), where he established a strict sect of zazen, a Buddhist teaching based on the teachings of Shakyamuni.

　In 1253, he traveled to Kyoto with his disciple Kaijo to recuperate from an illness. They stayed at the residence of their lay disciple Kakunen, located here (Nishi-iru Nishinotoin District, Takatsuji-dori Streets, Shimogyo Ward). He passed away in August of the same year at the age of 54. Shimogyo Ward, Takatsuji-dori Street, Nishinotoin-nishiiru, Eiyoji-cho District.

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Gassho, J
stlah

[Jundo]

By the way, if his lay disciple (俗弟子) had the Dharma Name "Kakunen" (覚念), that means that the fellow received Jukai and a Dharma Name just as today.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Bion]

That's just so typical of Kyoto.. You can't escape history anywhere. Such a lovely thing.

Gassho
sat lah

[Jundo]

By the way, in case someone thinks that the above marker is Dogen Zenji's grave, most of Master Dogen's ashes are actually kept at the Jōyōden (承陽殿, something like "Received Light Hall") at Eiheiji Main Temple. Kōso Jōyō Daishi (High Monk Received Light Great Teacher 高祖承陽大師) is the posthumous name he received from the Emperor.
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Gassho, J
stlah

[Anthony]

Beautiful, thanks for sharing this, Jundo. I'm particularly touched by the lay disciple Kakunen giving refuge to Dogen Zenji in his final moments.

Gassho, Anthony
satlah

[Ryumon]

It's interesting that the house collapsed or burned down but they kept the space for the marker. Do you know when they put that up?

Gassho,

Ryūmon (Kirk)

Sat Lah

[Jundo]

It's interesting that the house collapsed or burned down but they kept the space for the marker. Do you know when they put that up?

Gassho,

Ryūmon (Kirk)

Sat Lah

The City of Kyoto web page says this monument was built in 1938 by the local historical society. I do not know if there was something there before. I rather doubt it.

https://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/somu/rekishi/fm/ishibumi/html/si009.html

However, this other page purports to give some history of that spot, including that there may have been some upgrading, if not to the main monument, then to the wall, gates and such in 1970s.

In the Muromachi period , in 1482, the Jodo sect Eiyoji temple was founded on this site.
In 1585, by order of Hashiba Hideyoshi, Eiyoji was moved to Ebisucho (Shimogyo Ward).
In the Edo period , in 1637, the surrounding area was called Eiyojicho (Eyosicho). (Rakuchu Ezu)
In modern times , in 1938, a stone pillar was erected by the Kyoto Historical Sites Association.
In modern times, in 1978, due to road expansion work, the site was purchased and developed to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Kaijo's (懐奘) death, and a new monument was erected in his honor.
A (new) monument was erected in the winter of 1979.

... In 1252, Dogen fell ill, and in 1253, he handed over his affairs to his disciple Koun Ejo and died at the residence of his lay disciple Kakunen in Nishinotoin Takatsuji, Kyoto, at the age of 54. His remains were cremated at Akatsuji in Higashiyama, and his remains were interred at Eiheiji Temple. ... In 1854, he was given the posthumous title of Busshoden Tokokushi by the 121st Emperor Komei, (1854年、第121代・孝明天皇より諡号の仏性伝東国師 - "National Teacher Who Transmitted Buddhism East") and in 1879, he was bestowed the title of Joyo Daishi by the 122nd Emperor Meiji (1879年、第122代・明治天皇より承陽(じょうよう)大師を贈られた - High Monk Received Light Great Teacher ). 　

LINK

So, even the posthumous name, Kōso Jōyō Daishi, is fairly recent.

Gassho, J
stlah