Sanbō-in: The Residence of the Abbots
Entrance Halls
The historical residence of the Abbots of Daigo-ji has two entrance halls that have been designated Important Cultural Properties. The small hall that is accessed through the smaller entry is called Take no ma or Bamboo Room. The larger hall accessible from the main entrance is called Fugaku no ma or Mt. Fuji Room. Next to the Fugaku no ma is an antechamber known as Nichi gekkai no ma.
These rooms are decorated with painted screens adorned with bamboo, cherry blossoms, seasonal scenes, and Mount Fuji. The painting in Nichi gekkai no ma, commissioned in 1997 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Sanbō-in’s garden the following year, is the work of the contemporary landscape painter Hamada Taisuke (born 1932). The historical range of the paintings collected at Daigo-ji, especially in the abbot's quarters, from the founding period of the 10th century to the present day, is indicative of both the historical richness and the vitality of the temple still maintained today.