Shōjō-ji
| Shōjō-ji 勝常寺 | |
|---|---|
Buddhist | |
| Deity | Yakushi Nyorai |
| Rite | Shingon-shu Buzan-ha |
| Location | |
| Location | Yugawa, Fukushima Prefecture |
| Country | Japan |
  Shown within Fukushima Prefecture  Shōjō-ji (Japan) | |
| Geographic coordinates | 37°33′48″N 139°52′12.28″E / 37.56333°N 139.8700778°E |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Tokuitsu |
| Completed | c.807 |
Shōjō-ji (勝常寺) is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon-shu Buzan-ha sect in Yugawa, Kawanuma District, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.[1]
History
Shōjō-ji was opened in 807 by the
Hossō sect scholar-monk Tokuitsu. The original name of the temple is not known, but the present name has been in use since medieval times. At the time of foundation it was a large temple forming a complete Shichidō garan, many attached buildings, twelve houses for monks and more than 100 sub-temples. Today, the temple consists among others of the original auditorium (Yakushi Hall), the residence of the head priest (reception hall), the kitchen, the central gate (chūmon) and more than 30 Buddhist statues.[1]
Buildings and cultural assets
Of the more than 30 Buddha statues at Shōjō-ji, 12 date from the early
Kansai area
for a temple to have so many statues of such antiquity.
Yakushi-do
The current Yakushi-do is an early
Important Cultural Property. However, the original thatched roof was replaced by copper sheathing
in 1964. The location of this building is on the site of the Lecture Hall in the original temple layout, and there are traces of burn marks on the foundation stones, including that the temple burned down before this building was constructed.
Yakushi Sanzon
The main image at Shōjō-ji is a statue of
National Treasure
in 1996.
Other statuary
Five statues and one group of four statues) at Shōjō-ji dating from the early Heian period have been designated national
Important Cultural Properties
:
- Four Heavenly Kings (group of four statues)
- Juichimen Kannon Bosatsu
- Sho Kannon Bosatsu
- Jizo Bosatsu ("Longevity Jizo")
- Jizo Bosatsu ("Rain-bringing Jizo")
- Unidentified Bosatsu (possibly Kokuzo Bosatsu)
See also
References
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
