京都高台寺｜一代枭雄退场之后，宁宁留下的地方

On August 18, 1598, Toyotomi Hideyoshi died at Fushimi Castle at the age of 63. This powerful figure, who rose from peasant origins to become Kanpaku (regent), thus exited the stage of history. After Hideyoshi's death, the young Hideyori inherited the title, but real power remained in the hands of his mother, Yodo-dono. His principal wife, Kita-no-Mandokoro Nene, who had been with him for 31 years, gradually became marginalized in politics due to her lack of an heir, yet still retained the dignity and prestige of a principal wife. In 1603, Emperor Go-Yozei bestowed upon her the title "Kōdai-in." In 1606, the temple Nene built to pray for Hideyoshi's peace in the afterlife was completed; this is today's Kōdai-ji Temple. Thereafter, she lived a secluded life at Entoku-in Temple, south of Kōdai-ji, until her death in 1624, where she was buried. Nene met Hideyoshi when she was fourteen years old and served him from then on, witnessing his rise from foot soldier to the pinnacle of power. Despite not being of illustrious birth, she enjoyed Oda Nobunaga's favor and maintained a stable position within the Toyotomi clan. A handwritten letter from Nobunaga to Nene is still kept at Kodai-ji Temple, revealing both the mediation of marital disputes and the vivid, realistic character of a figure from the Sengoku period. In his later years, Hideyoshi favored a concubine of noble birth, leading to a shift in the Toyotomi clan's succession structure. After Hideyoshi's death, Nene left the center of power and retired to Higashiyama in Kyoto. In 1615, the Toyotomi clan was completely destroyed in the Siege of Osaka. On that day, the direction from which the Osaka Castle keep burned was clearly visible from Higashiyama, where Kodai-ji Temple is located. Nene may have stood there, gazing at the sky stained red by fire. Kodai-ji Temple once occupied a vast area with a complete complex, but multiple fires and upheavals destroyed most of its buildings. Today, only the original gate, the founding hall, the mausoleum, the moon-viewing platform, the umbrella pavilion, and the Shigure-tei pavilion remain, preserving their original forms. The strolling garden with its pond, the tea rooms, and the lacquerware and maki-e paintings inside the spirit house together create the unique spatial layers of Kodai-ji Temple. The spirit house was personally built by Nene to commemorate Hideyoshi and herself. The interior is entirely black, with gold-painted maki-e shimmering in the gloom, showcasing a strong aesthetic of the Momoyama period. The musical instrument decorations and floral patterns, while not depicting figures, suggest a welcoming scene to paradise, echoing the design of the Phoenix Hall at Byodoin Temple. The Kodai-ji Temple landscape as we see it today was largely restored in modern times. The gardens, tea rooms, maple trees, and sedges are not what they were always; they have been renovated and cultivated over the past few decades. Kodai-ji is not a static historical relic, but a space that is constantly being restored and renewed. This film follows Nene's life journey, exploring the architecture and gardens of Kodai-ji, reflecting on how individuals exit after the end of an era, how memories are placed, and how history is quietly preserved within the temple.