Kotohogi refers to celebrating with words. The concept of words having the power to change reality, called kotodama, has existed since ancient times. The literary arts of Japanese waka poetry and storytelling grew from this concept and helped shape Japanese culture. The expressions of words also continue to be used even now as inspiration for a variety of other arts and crafts such as paintings and designs.
In addition, the expression of joy with words is essential for the major turning points in our lives. We celebrate the new year, weddings, and long life in this way. These events have taken on ceremonial forms, leading to the creation of a various of crafted objects.
Prayer is also an act which symbolizes the sanctity of kotohogi. Prayers offered to God or the Buddha led to the realization of the sacred arts which have given a solemn character to temple and shrine spaces.
To celebrate the ascent to the throne of a new Japanese emperor, Shokokuji Jotenkaku Museum within the Shokoku-ji temple grounds is holding a special exhibition of treasured artifacts from the temples of Shokoku-ji, Kinkaku-ji, and Ginkaku-ji, intermixed with treasures linked to the royal family.

Highlights 1A dazzling collection of treasures linked to the royal family.

Shokoku-ji is located in the northern part of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. With connections such as the sub-temple, Jishoin, being the location where the Katsuranomiya family attained enlightenment, Shokoku-ji and the royal family are deeplly linked, and temple’s precious relics are evidence of this as well. To celebrate the ascent of a new Japanese emperor, a variety of treasures linked to the royal family such as a book said to contain imperial letters by Emperor Gomizuno, who ruled after the Edo period and the decorative paintings on a sliding door (by Maruyama Okyo) taken from the dwelling of Empress Kyoraimonin, Lady-in-Waiting to Emperor Momozono will be on display.

Highlights 2Legendary treasures exhibited for the first time

Shokoku-ji’s greatest treasure in its Edo period records is a collection of secret handwritten letters sent to a Buddhist monastery by Emperor Gokomatsu. Emperor Gokomatsu (1377 – 1433) was the emperor reigning when Shokoku-ji was built, and Shokoku-ji has always treasured this relic linking the temple to this historical figure. Although these letters have never been exhibited at any museum before, for this event they will be on display along with pictures from the Edo period.
“Hokekyo Kannonzo,” a work by Kato Nobukiyo (1734 – 1810) which uses the words of the Lotus Sutra to depict the contour of Kannon on a grand scale will also be exhibited for the first time.