Forestry unit

Forestry unit

Mount Koya’s forests and their history

1Mount Koya at the time of its founding

弘法大師の教えと森林管理
弘法大師の教えと森林管理

In 816, Kobo Daishi opened Mount Koya as a site for the practice of Shingon Buddhism. While it remains difficult to pinpoint what the mount was like at that time, it is said that the area was an uninhabited swamplands surrounded by lush forest.

2The first large-scale reforestation

摩尼山の天然林
摩尼山の天然林

Kobo Daishi was granted Mount Koya by Emperor Saga actual and built according to Buddhist principles of scale in order to prevent the entrance of ill forces. It is unclear what the actual area was at the time, but we estimate that it reached around 3,000 hectares.
In 994, Mount Koya was subject to a great fire, and most of the Garan burned away. As part of the reconstruction, the surrounding forest was cleared to a considerable degree. Mount Koya had been reduced to a barren plain. Between 1011 and 1015, Kishin Shonin planted hinoki cypress seeds around the mountain, the first large-scale forestry effort.

3A series of fires; protecting the forest

針葉樹と広葉樹が混在する森林
針葉樹と広葉樹が混在する森林
光が降り注ぎ植物が生育する人工林
光が降り注ぎ植物が生育する人工林
  1. 1) Clear-cutting: clearing an entire region of forest in one pass
  2. 2) Selective cutting: selectively felling mature lumber from a region of forest every several years to every ten years and allowing the area to regrow

Mount Koya continued to be subjected to large fires, requiring vast amounts of lumber each time the temple buildings were rebuild and repaired. Rather than use clear-cutting (1), selective cutting (2) was used to obtain lumber while keeping new crops planted. Older trees were selected in sequence from around the mountain, and in their place were planted seedlings of hinoki cypress, umbrella pine, cedar, pine, fir tree, and hemlock, woods chosen for their suitability for construction.

4The six tree types on Mount Koya

cedar
cedar
red pine
red pine
hinoki cypress
hinoki cypress
umbrella pine
umbrella pine
hemlock
hemlock
fir tree
fir tree

In 1813, the six tree types to be used on Mount Koya wre designated. These were cedar, hinoki cypress, umbrella pine, red pine, fir tree, and southern hemlock. These six types of trees are banned for use outside of repairing the Garan and temple buildings. In this way, the forests around Mount Koya and the six tree species growing within them have been protected for many long years since the mount’s founding.

5A new government nationalizes the forest

機関車による運材
機関車による運材
伐採風景
伐採風景

“Mount Koya has stewarded some 3,000 hectares of forest for the 1,000 years since its founding. In the Meiji period, the surrounding forest declined to 2,888 hectares and the majority of the area was designated as a national forest. This caused Mount Koya to lose the majority the the forest that served as its economic base. In 1886, 9 hectares were devoted to afforestation (reforesting). By 1900, this area had grown to 382 hectares. It is believed that a large quantity of natural lumber was cleared at this time. As felling and transport technologies developed, the forest went from a selective culling process to clear-cutting.”

6Giving back to the forest

現地踏査中の記念写真
現地踏査中の記念写真
鎌による下刈り作業の様子
鎌による下刈り作業の様子
寺有林の様子
寺有林の様子

“Since the land around Mount Koya was initially nationalized, the forebears of the temple have contributed to the forest by brokering various negotations. Between 1918 and 1945, 2,578 hectares of national forest were put under the supervision of Kongobu-ji as managed forest land (3). The majority of the managed forests granted to the temple had been already clear-cut by the government, so they had to be replanted at the roots. In 1920, Kongobu-ji created a forestry division devoted to the protection and growth of the forests. ”

3) Managed forests: a system by which one third of the proceeds obtained from cultivating a forest and obtaining lumber from it are given back to the government.

7Giving back to the forest

現地踏査中の記念写真
現地踏査中の記念写真
鎌による下刈り作業の様子
鎌による下刈り作業の様子

Following WWII, about 500 hectares of what had been managed forests were continued in today’s format as forests the profits of which are shared (4), with 600 hectares being returned to Mount Koya’s ownership. In addition, since before the war and continuing after it, the temple has bought several privately owned forest lands, increasing the acreage under its purview. In 1951, the temple created the Forestry Division as a continuation of the Forestry Group that had previously existed, establishing a plan based on ten-year cycles of forest stewardship and management.

4) Shared forests are created for the purposes of building forest land; the forest builder and the government enter into a profit-sharing agreement before cutting the lumber and agree to share profits in the future. The deed to the plot of land belongs to the government. On April 1, 2013, a partial revision of the legal code concerning the administration of national forest lands allowed for the period for cutting to be extended every eighty years.

8Un monument naturel dans la forêt de cèdres d’Okunoin (une zone de collecte spéciale des semences)

the route to Okunoin
the route to Okunoin
巨木の林立する奥之院
巨木の林立する奥之院

9Emperor Hirohito and Empress Kojun visit

ブリ縄の実演を天覧
ブリ縄の実演を天覧
現在の天覧場所
現在の天覧場所

In April 1977, the National Tree Planting festival was held in the Nachisan mountain region. On April 18, 1977, the emperor and empress visited Mount Koya.
The emperor, with his deep knowledge of flora, toured the foothills of Mt. Sani and saw the traditional “buri-nawa” conifer tree climbing technique performed.

10ふるさと文化財の森の指定

檜皮採取の様子
檜皮採取の様子
檜皮葺き作業の様子
檜皮葺き作業の様子

“5) “”Hiwada”” is the aged bark of the cypress tree that has been peeled off. It is widely used for shingling on traditional roofs such as those found in traditional architectural landmarks. ”

The Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs designates select forests as cultural assets for their importance in contributing to the continuation of structures of cultural importance. This system ensures a stable supply of assets derived from the countryside (in particular those that would be difficult to secure without proper management) and promotes the training of experts in the field.
Mount Koya’s forests are a testament to faith, planted by our forebears and kept alive through the support of parishioners. The trees have exceeded one hundred years of age and their bark can now be used for “hiwada” (5) roof thatching. An area of approximately 125 hectares, which includes the hiwada bark and other natural flora, was approved on March 24, 2015 for registration as a cultural asset.

11Kongobu-ji forest area

分収林の全景
分収林の全景
分収林の全景
分収林の全景
分収林4m枝打ち後の山林
分収林4m枝打ち後の山林
寺有林間伐後の山林
寺有林間伐後の山林

Kongobu-ji total forest area

1642.34 hectares
(as of December 2014)

(Breakdown by region) area Forest regions owned by the temple
1. Forests on temple grounds 94.49 hectares 2. Mount Koya
2. Mount Koya 754.63 hectares Koyacho: compartments 1 through 53
3. Tsuji-no-chaya
　 Yukawa		 305.35 hectares Koyacho: compartments 54 through 68
4. Kitadera 16.95 hectares Koyacho: compartment 70
5. Otaki 118.91 hectares Koyacho: compartments 69-1 through 69-3
110 through 114
6. Moriwaki 3.19 hectares Koyacho: compartment 69-4
7. Kokuka 21.1 hectares Kudoyama: compartment 71
8. Naigodani 36.79 hectares Koyacho compartment 72
9. Tateri 152.45 hectares Nosegawa, Nara Prefecture: compartments 105 through 109
10. Totsukawa 138.48 hectares Totsukawa, Nara Prefecture: compartments 100 through 104

Total shared forest area 482.91ha

Koyasan, Koyacho national forest: compartments 236 through 244 and 216

Bulletin — toward joint prosperity

  • Founding issue (2012)
  • Autumn 2012
  • Spring 2013

The mature forest of vast cedar trees between four hundred and six hundred years old that line the route to Okunoin is responsible for creating the simple elegance unique to Mount Koya.
Kongobu-ji’s Forestry Division, which is responsible for stewardship of the majority of the forest land on that route, welcomed the sixtieth anniversary of its founding in 2012.
The occasion was marked with the creation of the “Toward Joint Prosperity” bulletin, which describes the group’s history to date and its current efforts.

Wood products lineup

Koyasan Reiboku Forest Calendar

Surrounded by eight peaks enshrouded in eternal greenery, Mount Koya has developed as the sacred and fundamental site of Shingon Buddhism for 1,200 years.
We used the Koya Reiboku wood growing around the temple precinct to create these special calendars.
They are made from cedar and cypress that is the result of proper trimming as part of forest stewheardship.
After the year is passed and you have used the calendar, you can continue enjoying it as a poem to hang on your wall and continue to reap its blessings. We include a copy of the inscription along with the calendar. Take this opportunity to further affirm your connection to Mount Koya and enjoy the warmth of natural wood.

Koyasan Reiboku Forest Calendar
Wood type ：
Cedar and cypress
The type of wood cannot be specified, as lumber from periodically scheduled thinning is used.
Dimensions ：
Approx. 55cm tall 　Approx. 8.5cm wide 　1.2cm thick
The poem text may be subject to change. It cannot be specified by the buyer.
Price ：
¥3,500 (Sanyokai and Taishi Kyokai members and temple parishioners receive a 10% discount)
Shipping：
¥700 nationwide (Shipping fee is the same to all areas within Japan)
Payment ：
COD only Shipments are subject to a ¥250 handling fee

Orders of over five items receive free shipping and no COD handling charge.

Reservations and inquiries

Quantities are limited, so Sanyokai and Taishi Kyokai members and temple parishioners are invited for advance purchase of the pieces until October 11.
Orders are made open to the public beginning October 12. Sanyokai members are eligible for a discount.
Please mention your member number upon purchase.
These items are also available as bonuses for lumber donations, so please refer to the lumber donation page for further details.

648-0211
132 Koyasan, Koyacho, Itogun, Wakayama Prefecture
宗教法人　Kongobu-ji Forestry Division
TEL : 0736-56-2016
FAX : 0736-56-4640
E-mail: sanrinka@koyasan.or.jp

Telephone reservations and inquiries should be placed within the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM on weekdays.

Koya Reiboku Cane Holders

Many people today travel to Shikoku to make the 88 temple pilgrimage and seek solace and peace of mind. It is on these visits that they make their way to Mount Koya. Based on the idea that Kobo Daishi is always with us on our travels, you can make your pilgrimage with this cane. After paying your respects at the temple, you can safely store it at home until the Buddhist equinoctial services.
This cane carrries the wish that Kobo Daishi guide us into the next world. For the 1,200 years since Kobo Daishi founded Mount Koya as a sacred site for the training of Shingon Buddhism, the “Koya Reiboku” cedar wood here has grown through the years and weathered snow and storm to continue into the present as a living example of faith. We have used this cedar to create special cane holders.
When you return from a temple visit, you can use this accessory to store your cane, a symbol of Kobo Daishi’s being at your side, until your next trip.

Single cane holder
Single cane holder
Twin cane holder
Twin cane holder
Wood type ：
Cedar
Dimensions ：
Single cane holder 　 　Approx. 32cm tall 　Approx. 15cm wide 　15cm thick
Twin cane holder 　 　Approx. 32cm tall 　Approx. 24cm wide 　15cm thick
Price ：
Single cane holder:　 　 ¥3,800 (tax included)
Twin cane holder:　 　¥5,000 (tax included)
Shipping ：
Varies by region. We will contact you after you order.
Payment ：
COD only Orders under ¥10,000 are subject to a ¥324 handling fee
For handling fees on orders over ¥10,000, we will contact you after you order.
Orders and inquiries

Please contact us by telephone or fax.

〒648-0211
Koya, Inc. 674 Koyasan, Koyacho, Itogun, Wakayama Prefecture,
有限会社　高野
TEL : 0736-56-1011
FAX : 0736-56-1021

For telephone orders and inquiries, please call between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM on weekdays.