Byōdō-in
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Byōdō-in | |
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平等院 | |
Uji, Kyoto Prefecture | |
Country | Japan |
Geographic coordinates | 34°53′22″N 135°48′28″E / 34.88944°N 135.80778°E |
Architecture | |
Founder | Fujiwara no Yorimichi |
Completed | 1052 |
Website | |
www |
Byōdō-in (平等院, "Temple of Equality") is a
History
This temple was originally built in 998 in the Heian period as a rural villa of high-ranking courtier Minamoto no Shigenobu , Minister of the Left. After he died, one of the most powerful members of the Fujiwara clan, Fujiwara no Michinaga, purchased the property from the courtier's widow. The villa was made into a Buddhist temple by his son Fujiwara no Yorimichi in 1052. Being one of the World Heritage sites of Japan, the Byodoin Temple buildings and Buddha statues have a long history of about 1000 years. In East Asian Buddhism, there is the Three Ages of Buddhism, which are three divisions of time following Buddha's passing. The Mappo, which is also translated as the Age of Dharma Decline, is the degenerate Third Age of Buddhism, also known as the Latter Day of the Law. It was widely believed that the year 1052 marked the first year of the beginning of the end-of-the-world. This theory captured the heart of many aristocrats and monks, which as a result, people became more devout in Buddhism and believed in the ideology of Buddhist Pure Land. In the following year, Amida-do Hall (Phoenix Hall) was completed in whose interior sits the 2.4 meters tall Amida Buddha statue created by Jōchō, who is claimed to have been the best Buddhist sculptor in the Heian Period.
The Byodoin Temple gradually expanded into a massive Temple complex during the
A full-scale renovation of the Amida-do Hall (Phoenix Hall) was undertaken in 1670, during which the front doors were replaced. Two sub-temples, Jodo-in Temple belonging to the Jodo Sect and Saisho-in Temple belonging to the Tendai Sect, began to cooperate and made a great effort to maintain the operation of Byodoin Temple. In 1698, Uji was devastated by a large fire and Byodoin Temple was badly damaged. The walls and doors of Phoenix Hall were ruined after this incident. However, as a result of the deterioration of the temple, people's will for Phoenix Hall's preservation and renovation became enthusiastic.
During the
The Byodoin Temple was designated as a
The most famous building in the temple is the Phoenix Hall (鳳凰堂, Hōō-dō) or the
The Temple complex
The Phoenix Hall
The main building in Byōdō-in, the Phoenix Hall consists of a central hall, flanked by twin wing corridors on both sides of the central hall, and a tail corridor. The central hall houses an image of Amida Buddha. The roof of the hall displays statues of
The Phoenix Hall, completed in 1053, is the exemplar of Fujiwara Amida halls. It consists of a main rectangular structure flanked by two L-shaped wing corridors and a tail corridor, set at the edge of a large artificial pond. Though its official name is Amida-dō, it began to be called Hōō-dō, or Phoenix Hall, in the beginning of the Edo period. This name is considered to derive both from the building's likeness to a chinese phoenix with outstretched wings and a tail, and the pair of phoenixes adorning the roof.
Inside the Phoenix Hall, a single image of Amida (c. 1053) is installed on a high platform. The Amida sculpture is made of Japanese cypress and is covered with gold leaf. It was executed by
Applied to the walls of the hall are small relief carvings of celestials, the host believed to have accompanied Amida when he descended from the Western Paradise to gather the souls of believers at the moment of death and transport them in lotus blossoms to Paradise. Raigō paintings on the wooden doors of the Phoenix Hall, depicting the Descent of the Amida Buddha, are an early example of Yamato-e, Japanese-style painting, and contain representations of the scenery around Kyoto.
There is a Jōdo-shiki garden with a pond in front of the building, which in 1997 was dredged as part of an archeological dig. As the temple faces the East, it suggests that the audience need to cross the Aji-ike pond in front of the Phoenix Hall, in order to reach Buddhist Pure Land. The gardens are a
The Kannon-do Hall
The Kannon-do Hall is an Important Cultural Property, established on the former site of the main hall around 1230, during the Early Kamakura Period. The hall structure is simple, which follows the classical design from the Tenpyo period (710-794), having two different form bent to support the roof. It is currently under renovation and not open to the public.
Japan commemorates the building's longevity and cultural significance by displaying its image on the
Yorin-an Shoin Residence
It is a residence as well as one of the sub-temples in the precinct. Built in the early
Hoshokan Museum
As the former temple museum which opened in 1965 had become outdated, an innovative third-generation museum was opened on March 1, 2001, which is named the Hoshokan Museum. This museum achieved a significantly improved storage and display environment for national treasures from the Byodoin Temple, including the Temple Bell, 26 statues of the Praying Bodhisattva on Clouds and a pair of Phoenix from the rooftop of Phoenix Hall. It is the first comprehensive museum run by a religious organisation. The majority of the museum buildings are hidden underground, so that the exterior outlook of museum's blends with Phoenix Hall and other building complexes within the temple. Due to its design, the interior of the museum receives sufficient natural sunlight, as well as artificial lighting to keep the exhibition halls bright and comfortable for audience's experience.[9]
Entry to the complex grounds costs 600 yen for adults, and includes access to the gardens and the museum. An entry pass to the Phoenix Hall, which was newly restored in March 2014, costs an additional 300 yen and can be purchased near the gate. The tour is conducted in Japanese, however English paper guide book is provided.
Byodoin Tea Salon Toka
A tea salon to try authentic Uji green tea in the precinct of Byodoin Temple. Tea leaves harvested in the tea fields of Uji City or neighbouring farms are used. Certified Japanese Tea Instructors will provide tea to visitors with the finest care and knowledge. Open Monday to Sunday but closed on Tuesday, from 10:00 to 16:30. Last order is at 16:00.[10]
Gallery
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The head of the Jōchō statue of Amitābha is visible in this photo of the Phoenix Hall.
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Left side of Phoenix Hall
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The garden in front of the Phoenix Hall.
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Kannondo
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Omotemon, the main gate.
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(video) Tourists walking into the Phoenix Hall on a sunny day.
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Byōdō-in Phoenix-Statue
See also
- Battle of Uji (1180)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (temples)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (sculptures)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (paintings)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (crafts-others)
- For an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture, see the Glossary of Japanese Buddhism.
- Shinden-zukuri
References
- ^ Asian Historical Architecture: Byōdō-in.
- ^ "Byōdō-in official web site". Archived from the original on 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
- ISBN 978-1-4629-0857-8.
- ISBN 978-0-8122-0531-2.
- ISBN 978-1-4629-0590-4.
- ^ "平等院庭園". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ Kyoto Travel: Byōdō-in.
- ^ "Watch | Walk Around | World Heritage Byodoin". www.byodoin.or.jp.
- ^ "Hoshokan Museum | World Heritage Byodoin". www.byodoin.or.jp.
- ^ "Byodoin Temple Tea Room "Sabo Toka" | World Heritage Byodoin". www.byodoin.or.jp.