| Kōfuku-ji | |
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| Five-story pagoda and Tōkondō at Kōfuku-ji | |
| Information | |
| Mountain Name | None |
| Denomination | Hossō |
| Venerated | Shaka Nyorai (Śākyamuni) |
| Founded | 669 |
| Founder(s) | Emperor Tenji |
| Address | Banchi 48 Noboriōji-chō, Nara-shi, Nara-ken |
| Country | Japan |
| Website | homepage |
Kōfuku-ji (興福寺 Kōfuku-ji) is a Buddhist temple in the city of Nara, in Nara prefecture, Japan. The temple is the headquarter of the Hossō school in Japan.
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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 husbands’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 artificially planned capital in Japan, then again in 710, moved to its current place, on the east side of the newly constructed capital, Heijō-kyō, today's Nara.
Kōfuku-ji was the Fujiwara's tutelary temple, and enjoyed as much prosperty, and 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, and was rebuilt as many times as well, although finally some of the important buildings, such as two of the three golden halls, the nandaimon, chūmon an the corridor were never reconstructed and are missing today.
Architectures and treasures
Kōfuku-ji, along with several Buddhist temples, Kasuga Taisha, the remains of the Heijō Palace, and other sites in Nara, received the distinction of being named a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name: "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara."
The followings are some of the temple's buildings and treasures of note.
Architecture
- Tōkondo (East Golden Hall) (東金堂), the remaining of the three golden halls (National Teasure)
- Five-storied pagoda (五重塔 gojyū-no-tō) (National Treasure)
- Three-storied pagoda (三重塔 sanjyū-no-tō) (National Treasure)
- Hoku'endō (North octagonal hall) (北円堂) (National Treasure)
- Nan'endō (South octagonal hall) (南円堂), Site No.9 of Saigoku 33 Pilgrimage (Important Cultural Property)
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) Fukūkansaku Kannon (不空羂索観音) attributed to Kōkei, is housed in Nan'endō (National Treasure)
Gallery
 The Yakushi Nyorai buddha (Important Cultural Property) inside Tōkondo |
 Hoku'endō retains an older style as opposed to Nan'endō |
 Gojū-no-tō five-storied pagoda |
 The Sanjū-no-tō stands behind Nan'endō |
Notes
- ^ John Bowring, pp.218-219
References
- John Bowring, Richard (2005). The religious traditions of Japan. Cambridge University Press. pp. 77-78. ISBN 052185119X. http://books.google.co.jp/books?id=GzeODCVG26UC.
- Noma, Seiroku; John M. Rosenfield, Bin Takahashi (2003). The Arts of Japan: Ancient and medieval. Kodansha International. pp. 84-85. ISBN 4770029772. http://books.google.co.jp/books?id=RfswGk-C0ykC.
See also
- List of National Treasures of Japan (temples)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (archaeological materials)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (sculptures)
- 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.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kofukuji |
Coordinates: 34°41′N 135°50′E / 34.683°N 135.833°E
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