Kōryū-ji

Old view of the temple complex

The Kōryū-ji ( Japanese 廣隆寺 ) is a temple of the Shingon Buddhist Omuro branch in the Ukyō district in Kyoto . The temple is also called Uzumasa Taishidō ( 太秦太子堂 ), Hatakimi-dera ( 秦公寺 ) or Hachioka-dera ( 蜂岡寺 ).

history

The founding history written in 836 ( 廣隆寺 asste 起 ) indicates that in 603 Hata no Kawakatsu received a Buddhist statue from Shōtoku Taishi and built the temple after his death. After the Nihonshoki , a Buddhist statue is said to have been brought from Korea and placed there. The temple burned down in 818, but was rebuilt under the priest Dōshō , who came from the Hata family. Then the temple burned down in 1150 but was rebuilt in 1165. Despite the repeated fires, the monks managed to save the valuable sculptures.

The attachment

( ⦿ = national treasure , ◎ = important cultural asset of Japan ) You enter the temple in the south

The main gate Nandaimon ( 南大門 ), also called Niō-mon ( 仁王門 ), is designed as a Rōmon . The current gate dates from 1702. The Niō placed in it are likely to be older, they probably come from the Muromachi period.

The ◎ Lehrhalle ( 講堂 ) follows on the right . It dates from 1165 and is the oldest surviving building in Kyoto. It is popularly known as the “Red Hall” ( 赤堂 ). Their dimensions are 5 × 4 ken (width × depth); it has a Yosemune roof . In 1565 the building received bell-shaped windows in the Zen style. There is the seated ⦿ Amida Nyorai, flanked by a Jizō and a Kokūzō Bosatsu.

Further north is the main hall ( 本堂 ), which is also called "Jōgū Ōin Taishiden" ( 上宮王院太子殿 ). This building dates from 1730.

At the western end of the complex, surrounded by a thick hedge, stands a small octagonal building ⦿ Keigūin ( 桂宮院 ), also called Hakakku-endō ( 八角円堂 ) according to its shape . It dates from 1251.

At the end in the north is the temple-shaped museum, Reihōdō ( 霊宝堂 ) from 1983. There are u. a. two ⦿ Miroku Bodhisattva ( Maitreya ) made of wood, one of which, the "crowned Miroku" ( 宝冠弥勒 ), has been registered as the No. 1 national treasure. It is seen as a gift of the aforementioned Hata no Kawakatsu. The other, less famous Miroku is also called "the crying" ( 泣き弥勒 ) because of the area around his eyes . Both Miroku are likely to be of Korean origin. In the construction of the group which is located ⦿ twelve heavenly generals from the Heian period .