Daigo-ji

Daigo-ji 醍醐寺
The Five-story Pagoda, a National Treasure of Japan
Basic information
Location	22 Daigo Higashiōji-chō, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
Affiliation	Daigo School of Shingon Buddhism
Deity	Yakushi Nyorai (Bhaiṣajyaguru)
Country	Japan
Website	http://www.daigoji.or.jp/
Architectural description
Founder	Shōbō
Completed	874

Daigo-ji (醍醐寺, Daigo-ji^?) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan. Its main devotion (honzon) is Yakushi. Daigo, literally "ghee", is used figuratively to mean "" and is a metaphor of the most profound part of Buddhist thoughts.

Daigo-ji was founded in the early Heian period. In 874, Rigen-daishi (Shōbō) founded the temple.

After having fallen ill and abdicated in 930, Emperor Daigo entered Buddhist priesthood at this temple. As a monk, he took the Buddhist name Hō-kongō; and shortly thereafter, died at the age of 46. He was buried in the temple, which is why his posthumous name was Daigo.

Several structures, including the kondō and the five-story pagoda, are National Treasures of Japan. The temple possesses 18 specifically designated national treasures, including the buildings and other works as well; and the temple holds several dozen important cultural assets. Wall paintings at the temple were the subject of academic research which earned the Imperial Prize of the Japan Academy in 1960.

As part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto", it is designated as a World Heritage Site.

The five-storey pagoda at Daigoji temple was built in 951 and is the oldest building in Kyoto. It was one of few buildings to survive the Onin War in the 15th century.