Ryōsen-ji | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Ryōsen-ji Shingon Buddhism |
Deity | Yakushi Nyorai |
Location | |
Location | 3879 Nakamachi, Nara 631-0052 |
Country | Japan |
Geographic coordinates | 34°40′24″N 135°44′33″E / 34.673448°N 135.742401°E |
Architecture | |
Completed | 736 |
Website | |
Ryōsen-ji |
Ryōsen-ji (霊山寺) is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. Founded in the eighth century, the Hondō is a National Treasure and a number of other buildings and temple treasures have been designated Important Cultural Properties.
In the late seventh century Ono no Tobito erected a set of public baths on Mount Tomi outside Nara and enshrined an image of Yakushi. In 734 Emperor Shōmu instructed Gyōki to erect a hall on the site, and two years later the Indian monk Bodhisena, noticing a resemblance to the Vulture Peak, founded the Ryōsen-ji. The Hondō was rebuilt in 1283. Toyotomi Hideyoshi granted the temple lands valued at a hundred koku. In the Meiji period many of the monk's quarters were abandoned and over two hundred images were burned. Restored in 1940, the temple has been revived. [1]
Jūrokusho Jinja (十六所神社) is now an independent shrine, but before the Meiji period served Ryōsen-ji in a tutelary capacity. [25] The Honden (1384) and subordinate Sumiyoshi Jinja Honden and Ryūō Jinja Honden (both 1386) have been designated Important Cultural Properties. [26] [27] [28]