Kōfuku-ji

Coordinates: 34°41′00″N 135°49′52″E / 34.68325°N 135.83117°E / 34.68325; 135.83117
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Kofuku-ji
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Kōfuku-ji
CountryJapan
Geographic coordinates34°41′00″N 135°49′52″E / 34.68325°N 135.83117°E / 34.68325; 135.83117
Architecture
FounderEmperor Tenji
Completed669
Website
www.kohfukuji.com

Kōfuku-ji (興福寺, Kōfuku-ji) is a

Hossō
school.

History

Kōfuku-ji has its origin as a temple that was established in 669 by Kagami-no-Ōkimi (鏡大君), the wife of Fujiwara no Kamatari, wishing for her husband's recovery from illness. Its original site was in Yamashina, Yamashiro Province (present-day Kyoto). In 672, the temple was moved to Fujiwara-kyō, the first planned Japanese capital to copy the orthogonal grid pattern of Chang'an. In 710, the temple was dismantled for the second time and moved to its present location, on the east side of the newly constructed capital, Heijō-kyō, today's Nara.

Kōfuku-ji was the Fujiwara's tutelary temple, and enjoyed prosperity for as long as the family did. The temple was not only an important center for the Buddhist religion, but also retained influence over the imperial government, and even by "aggressive means" in some cases.[1] When many of the Nanto Shichi Daiji, such as Tōdai-ji, declined after the move of capital to Heian-kyō (Kyoto), Kōfuku-ji kept its significance because of its connection to the Fujiwara.

The temple was damaged and destroyed by civil wars and fires many times,[2] and was rebuilt as many times as well, although finally some of the important buildings, such as one of the three golden halls, the Nandaimon, Chūmon and the corridor were never reconstructed and are missing today. The rebuilding of the Central Golden Hall was completed in 2018.

Rokusō-an (六窓庵, Six Window Hut) was a chashitsu formerly located at the temple and considered one of the San-meiseki (三名席, Three Famous Tearooms).[3] It was relocated due its deteriorated state and is now in the gardens of the Tokyo National Museum.[4][5]

Architectures and treasures

Saigoku 33 Pilgrimage
Chū-kondō (Central Golden Hall)
Tō-kondō (East Golden Hall)
Asura (Buddhism)

The following are some of the temple's buildings and treasures of note.

Architecture

Treasures

  • (Statue) The Devas of the Eight Classes, including dry-lacquer Ashura (National Treasure)
  • (Statue)
    The Ten Great Disciples
    (National Treasure)
  • (Statue) Thousand-armed Kannon (National Treasure)
  • (Statue) Amoghapāśa (不空羂索観音, Fukūkensaku Kannon) attributed to Kōkei, is housed in Nan'endō (National Treasure)

Plan

Showing the original layout of the temple, with the later three-storied pagoda, Nan'en-dō, and Ōyūya superimposed. Of the buildings marked, only these three together with the five-storied pagoda, Tōkon-dō and Hoku'en-dō remain.[12]

Three-storied pagoda
Five-storied pagoda
monks' quarters



Gallery

  • Golden Buddha in Kōfuku-ji inside Tō-kondō
    Golden Buddha in Kōfuku-ji inside Tō-kondō
  • Yakushi Nyorai (Important Cultural Property) inside Tō-kondō
    Yakushi Nyorai
    (Important Cultural Property) inside Tō-kondō
  • Hoku'endō, older of the two octagonal halls
    Hoku'endō, older of the two octagonal halls
  • Gojū-no-tō five-storied pagoda
    Gojū-no-tō five-storied
    pagoda
  • Pagoda at night
    Pagoda at night
  • The Sanjū-no-tō stands behind Nan'endō
    The Sanjū-no-tō stands behind Nan'endō
  • Gojū-no-tō five-storied pagoda from below
    Gojū-no-tō five-storied
    pagoda
    from below
  • Virūpākṣa
  • Rokusō-an tea house
    Rokusō-an tea house

See also

Notes

References

External links