Oka-dera
The Oka-dera ( Japanese 岡 寺 ) is a Buddhist temple in the Asuka community , Nara prefecture in Japan . Its official name is Ryūgai-ji ( 龍 蓋 寺 , "Dragon Lock Temple"). The temple is associated with the Shingon Buzan sect. The main image of the temple is a statue of Kannon with a wish-fulfilling jewel (Nyoirin-Kannon), Japan's largest clay image. The Oka-dera is the seventh temple of the Saigoku pilgrimage route ( 西 国 三十 三 箇 所 , Saigoku sanjūsankasho ).
Overview
The temple is said to have been built at the beginning of the 8th century by the priest Gien on the site of the former Okamiya palace of Prince Kusakabe no miko (662–689). None of the buildings date from the time it was founded. Construction of today's main hall began in 1805. The entrance gate dates from 1612. The teaching building from 1644 is registered as an important cultural asset . The oldest building is the Giens mausoleum from 1360.
During excavations in 2005, roof tiles were found at the Haruta shrine located on the site, which led to the temple area being classified as an archaeological site. The statue of Giens, which has long been in the possession of the temple and made using the dry lacquer technique, is a national cultural treasure and is now part of the collection of the Nara National Museum.
The official name Ryūgai-ji refers to the founding legend of the temple. After that, the area was attacked by a dragon at the turn of the 7th to the 8th century. The frightened residents called for help from the priest Gien, who was able to banish the dragon into a pond with the power of his Buddhist prayer cord. The pond was closed with a lettered stone to prevent the dragon from escaping. The pond and stone are on the temple grounds.
The best way to get to the Oka-dera from Osaka is by taking the Kintetsu train. Abenobashi's Kintentsu Minami-osaka / Yoshino Line Express serves Okadera Station.
literature
- Valeria Jana Schwanitz, August Wierling: Saigoku - Out and about in Japan's western lands . Manpuku-Verlag, Potsdam 2012, ISBN 3-981-51680-X .
Web links
- Official Website - Japanese
Coordinates: 34 ° 28 ′ 18.4 " N , 135 ° 49 ′ 42.1" E