Daijo-ji temple(Oukyodera temple)

Daijo-ji Temple has a number of paintings including those on the sliding doors that were created by a painter in the mid-Edo Period (1603–1868), and his disciples. The temple is also called Okyodera Temple.

When Okyo was still not famous, the holy priest Mitsuzo, the chief priest of Daijo-ji Temple, saw through his talent and helped with his fees for study. Okyo reportedly went to Edo (present-day Tokyo) with the subsidy, went through the training and became the greatest artist of all. Later, he visited Daijo-ji Temple five times and created many paintings on the sliding doors and scrolls with his disciples as a return for Mitsuzo’s favor.

In 13 reception halls in Daijo-ji Temple, there are 165 screen paintings created by Okyo and his 12 disciples. All of them are nationally designated as Important Cultural Properties.

Placing the eleven faced Kannon statue (national Important Cultural Property) in an alter room as the center, the screen paintings are solemnly placed in 13 rooms. The world of Buddha (Mandala) is embodied in the space of the rooms.

Currently, as a project to preserve the paintings on the sliding doors, the screen paintings that are Important Cultural Properties are going to be transferred to storage. In their place, the plan to create and display accurate copies of the paintings is in progress.