|
|
Destinations... Japan Travel Guide The Yamasa Institute |
|
|
|
|
Destinations... Japan Travel Guide The Yamasa Institute |
|
|
|
Edited by: Declan Murphy Recommended: Suggested Itineraries Favorite Nara moments... Best ways to get there Nara Photogallery Newsgroups: fj.rec.travel.japan, Alt-FAQ Bulletin Boards: Fun/Clubs/Nightlife  Accommodation/Discounts
|
Walking around the historic temple complex of Horyuji, it's worth remembering the fact that Buddhism arrived in Japan only fifty years before the temple was built. The self assured, confident scale of the complex serves as a testament to how readily this imported faith was accepted. The temple was founded by the then regent, Prince Shotoku, in accordance with his father's, Emperor Yomei's, dying wish. Though the complex was destroyed by fire in 670, it was promptly rebuilt, making it the oldest surviving Buddhist temple in Japan.
The main approach to the temple is from the south along a broad and shady road. On this road, you willl pass the information center, where you can get English language maps and view displays about the temple. At the end of the road is the Nandai (Great South Gate) which marks the outer courtyard, inside of which lies a second walled complex, the Sai-in Garan, or Western Temple. Once inside the Sai-in Garan, the first thing one notices is the five-story pagoda. It is the oldest in Japan. Unlike other pagodas in Japan, here you can actually see the statues inside, all of which are early eighth century clay images. The most interesting statue is located in the north alcove. It depicts Buddha entering nirvana watched by a small, quite realistic crowd.
The building to the right of the pagoda is Horyuji's main attraction, the Kon-Do (Main Hall). Dating from the seventh century, it is the world's oldest wooden structure. The building is not very large, but a close look will reveal that it is indeed very impressive, with its multi-layered roof, its sweeping eaves, and its intricately detailed second floor banister. The dragons which prop up the roof were added later. Entering the Kon-Do through the south door, the first thing that meets the eyes is a bronze image of Shaka Nyorai (Historical Buddha). He is flanked by 2 Bodhisattvas (enlightened beings or dieties in Mahayana Buddism) that still bear some of the original gold leaf. The image of the three figures is known as the Shaka Triad. It was cast in 623 in memory of Prince Shotoku, who died the previous year. To the right of the Shaka Triad stands Yakushi Nyorai (Buddha of Healing) to which the temple was dedicated in 607. To the left of the Shaka Triad is Amida Buddha, commemorating the prince's mother. The platform is protected by Four Heavenly Kings (Shi-Tenno) carved in the late seventh century of camphor wood (an asian evergreen highly resistant to insects).
Exiting the Sai-in compound, walk east past the monk's quarters and the shrine dedicated to Prince Shotoku's horse, and you will come to a series of buildings. The first of these is the Kudara Kannon Hall. Completed in 1998, the building houses the Kudara Kannon, as well as other early Buddhist art. Carved of camphor wood, the Kudara Kannon is very famous for its tall, slender, graceful form. The statue is believed to be from the seventh century. Though nothing is known about where the figure came from or who carved it, it has long been recognized as one of Japan's finest Buddhist works of art.
To the right of the Kudara Kannon Hall is the Daihozo-Den, or Great Treasure Hall. This museum consists of two buildings. The first houses statues of Prince Shotoku aged two and seven, as well as a portrait of him as a young man. Also housed here is the bronze Yume-chigae Kannon. This "Dream Changing" Kannon, a delicate creature with a soft, secretive smile, is credited with turning bad dreams into good. The second hall contains more images of Prince Shotoku and a small, very faded panel from the Kon-do murals. But it is the two rare Buddhist altars that are the most important treasures of this building. The first is known as the Tamamushi Altar, named after the tamamushi beetle, whose iridescent wings once decorated the altar's base. Paintings on the sides show scences from Buddha's life, of which the most famous shows him folding his shirt, hanging it on a tree and then flinging himself off a cliff to feed a starving tiger and her cubs. In the next room is the Lady Tachibana Altar. This altar, which once belonged to Prince Shotoku's consort, is larger and not as beautifully decorated, but it does contain bronze statues of Amida (Buddha of everlasting light and happiness), and two attendant bodhisattvas balanced on long stemmed lotus blossoms.
From the Daihozo-Den a road leads east to the To-in Garan (Eastern Temple). This part of the complex was added in 739 when the monk Gyoshin Sozu dedicated a temple to Shotoku on the site of the Prince's former palace. The main building here is the Yume-dono (Hall of Dreams). Octagonal in shape, the building houses the Kuze Kannon, a truly majestic gilded wooden statue. Until recently, the figure, said to be the same height as Prince Shotoku or even modelled on him, has been a hidden image, or hibutsu, which no one had seen for centuries. Even now the Kannon is kept hidden for most of the year, except for brief periods in spring and autumn. Also inside the Yume-Dono, you will find a statue of Gyoshin Sozu, dating from the Nara Period. The figure holds a rod on the east side and on the west side he holds a clay statue of a thin, worried looking monk. This monk is Dosen Risshi, who oversaw repairs to the hall during the Heian Period (794-1185).
CHUGUJI
A gate in the northeast corner of the To-in Garan leads directly into Chuguji. Originally the residence of Prince Shotoku's mother, it was converted into a temple on her death in 621. The main reason for coming here is to see the Miroku Bosatsu (the Future Buddha). This carved camphor wood figure, contemplative and boy-like, seems to be absorbed in the task of trying to save mankind from suffering. Blackened with age, it is believed to have been carved by an immigrant Korean artisan in the early seventh century. Beside the altar are the replicated remnants of a pair of tapestries known as the Tenjukoku Mandala. Commissioned by Lady Tachinaba in 623, the mandala commemorates Prince Shotoku's death by depicting him in Buddha's Paradise. A thirteenth century nun rescued what she could of the mandala and patched the pieces together into the square that survives today. Even now it is possible to make out some of the celestial figures as well as symbolic tortoises and phoenixes.
Chuguji marks the eastern extremity of the Horyuji complex. From here it takes about eight minutes to walk south to the Chuguji-mae bus stop which is located on the main road. The southbound buses will take you back to JR Horyuji Station, while those going north pass Yakushiji on the way back to Nara. In either case you'll want to take a #52, #97, or #98 bus.
How to get to Horyuji and Chuguji
Horyuji is about 12 km southwest of Nara and you can get there by bus or by train.
By train: Take the train from JR Nara station to Horyuji station (about 15 minutes).
By bus: From JR Nara station or Kintetsu Nara station to Horyuji bus stop, take bus number 60 (to Oji-sta. via Horyuji--
about 39 min.), or bus numbers 52, 97, or 98 (to Horyuji-mae via Toshodaiji and Yakushiji-higashi-- about 53 min.). Buses run every 10 to 15 minutes.
Once you get off at Horyuji Station, it's a twenty minute walk to the temple. Or you can wait for the number 72 bus at Horyuji Station (1 or 2 hourly), which is a 10 minute ride to the temple.
Tours - The Japan Discovery Tours visits Horyuji and Chuguji
Click here for more information regarding when Discovery visits this destination.
Photographs and contributions
Do you have good photographs or a story to share about Nara? Please share it with us.
Bulletin Boards & Newsgroups
Fun/Clubs/Nightlife
Accommodation/Discounts
fj.rec.travel.japan, Alt-FAQ
Disclaimer and Request:
Opening hours, prices, booking procedures, schedules etc are subject to changes beyond our control. This site is just a guide, and we advise that you always check and confirm in advance. Suggestions, additions and correction of errors are always welcome. Please contact us.
|
www.yamasa.org content is created and maintained by
Declan Murphy and the students and
staff of the
Yamasa Institute's Multimedia Studio. This site is copyright Yamasa - All rights reserved.
C O M M U N I T Y M E M B E R S
