Gankō-ji (Mitake)
The Gankō-ji ( Japanese 願 興 寺 ) is a temple of the Tendai direction of Buddhism in Mitake in Gifu Prefecture .
history
According to tradition, priest Saicho came to this area in 815 and built a free nursing home ( 布施 屋 , Fuseya ) for the sick , in which he set up the figure of a healing Buddha, the Yakushi Nyorai . However, since roof tiles have been found on the site that date from the Hakuhō period ( 白鳳 , second half of the 7th century), the foundation is likely to be even older.
At the end of the 10th century, the nun Gyōchi ( 行 智 ) built a hermitage here at the request of Emperor Ichijō . In 996, the Amagasaki pond southwest of the hermitage is said to have gleamed golden when a yakushi appeared on a crab. Since then this has been called "crab yakushi". Emperor Ichijō then had a complete temple complex with the associated seven buildings ( 七 堂 伽藍 , Shichidō-garan ) built and named it Ōtera-san Gankō-ji ( 大寺 山 願 興 寺 ) in 998 .
In the following years there were fires caused by soldiers, in 1108 and then also in 1572 the temple was completely lost.
The attachment
The current main hall ( 本 堂 , Hondō ) dates from 1581 and is registered as an important cultural asset . It can be entered from all four sides, a construction that is very rare. The large, simple hall is especially appreciated by the believers in the wider area. The Hiromi railway line , operated by Nagoya Tetsudō , ends right in front of the temple.
There are a number of buildings from the Edo period on the extensive grounds . The gate is designed as a bell tower gate ( 鐘楼 門 , Shōrō -mon ). It is an important cultural asset of the prefecture.
Treasures of the temple
The temple treasures include the seated Yakushi Nyorai with his knightly companions, a standing Amida Nyorai , a seated Amida Nyorai, a Shaka Nyorai with companions, the four Heavenly Princes and the Twelve Heavenly Generals . They date from the Heian to Kamakura periods and are all registered as important national treasures. They are set up in the treasure house ( 霊 宝殿 , Reihō-den ) on the site. where they are publicly available. The most important cult figure is only visible to the general public every twelve years on April 1st of each rat year.
Since the temple has many other treasures, the treasure house is also called the " Shōsōin of East Mino ".
Remarks
- ↑ The rat year is determined by the sequence of the branches of the earth : it was last in 2008.
literature
- Gifu-ken kotogakko kyoiku kenkyukai komin-chireki-bukai, chiri-bukai (Ed.): Gankō-ji. In: Gifu-ken no rekishi sampo. Yamakawa Shuppan, 2006. ISBN 978-4-634-24621-8 .
Web links
Coordinates: 35 ° 25 '48.9 " N , 137 ° 7' 44.6" E