Kōfuku-ji

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Script error: No such module "Nihongo". is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples in the city of Nara, Japan. The temple is the national headquarters of the Hossō school. It is part of Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a World Heritage Site.

History

File:Five story Pagoda of Kohuku-ji (temple) in Nara, Japan (1911 by Elstner Hilton).jpg

Kofuku-ji in 1911

Kōfuku-ji has its origin as a temple that was established in 669 by Kagami-no-Ōkimi (Script error: No such module "Lang".Template:Category handler), the wife of Fujiwara no Kamatari, wishing for her husband'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 planned Japanese capital to copy the orthogonal grid pattern of Chang'an. In 710, the temple was dismantled for the second time and moved to its present location, on the east side of the newly constructed capital, Heijō-kyō, today's Nara.

Kōfuku-ji was the Fujiwara's tutelary temple, and enjoyed prosperity for 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,^[2] and was rebuilt as many times as well, although finally some of the important buildings, such as one of the three golden halls, the Nandaimon, Chūmon and the corridor were never reconstructed and are missing today. The rebuilding of the Central Golden Hall was completed in 2018.

Script error: No such module "Nihongo". was a chashitsu formerly located at the temple and considered one of the Script error: No such module "Nihongo"..^[3] It was relocated due its deteriorated state and is now in the gardens of the Tokyo National Museum.^[4]^[5]

Architecture and treasures

File:Koufuku-ji Nan'endo 201505a.jpg

Nan'endō is the No.9 of Saigoku 33 Pilgrimage

File:181029 Chū-kondō of Kōfuku-ji.jpg

Chū-kondō (Central Golden Hall)

File:Kofukuji09s3200.jpg

Tō-kondō (East Golden Hall)

File:ASURA Kohfukuji.jpg

Asura (Buddhism)

The following are some of the temple's buildings and treasures of note.

Architecture

Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., 1425, one of the former three golden halls (National Treasure)^[6]
Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., 2018, reconstructed, the former temporary Central Golden Hall building (仮金堂) now serves as the temporary Lecture Hall (仮講堂)
Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., 1426 (National Treasure)^[7]
Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., 1185 (National Treasure)^[8]
Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., 1210 (National Treasure)^[9]
Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., 1741, Site No.9 of Saigoku 33 Pilgrimage (Important Cultural Property)^[10]
Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., 1394–1427 (Important Cultural Property)^[11]

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) Script error: No such module "Nihongo". attributed to Kōkei, is housed in Nan'endō (National Treasure)

Plan

Showing the original layout of the temple, with the later three-storied pagoda, Nan'en-dō, and Ōyūya superimposed. Of the buildings marked, only these three together with the five-storied pagoda, Tōkon-dō and Hoku'en-dō remain.^[12]

File:Kōfukuji plan.png