Ryōsen-ji (Nara)

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.

Ryōsen-ji
Ryōsen-ji Hondō (1283), a National Treasure
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
Architecture
Completed	736
Website
Ryōsen-ji

History

Pagoda

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]

Buildings

• Hondō (1283), 5x6 bay, irimoya-zukuri, tiled roof (National Treasure)[2][3]
• Niōmon (1516), three bay, one door (Important Cultural Property)[4]
• Three storey pagoda (1356), hinoki bark roof (ICP)[5][6]
• Shōrō (mid-Muromachi period), single bay, irimoya-zukuri, hinoki bark roof (ICP)[7][8]

Treasures

• Wall painting inside the three-storey pagoda (late Kamakura period to Nambokuchō period) (ICP)[9]
• Seated statue of Yakushi Nyorai (ICP)[10]
• Statues of Nikkō Bosatsu and Gakkō Bosatsu (ICP)[11]
• Zushi (1285) (ICP)[12]
• Statues of Jūni Shinshō (Kamakura period) (ICP)[13]
• Plaque of Buddha triad (Hakuhō period) (ICP)[14]
• Seated statue of Amida Nyorai (twelfth century) (ICP)[15]
• Seated statue of Dainichi Nyorai (late Heian period) (ICP)[16]
• Statue of Jūichimen Kannon (early Heian period) (ICP)[17]
• Statue of Bishamonten (twelfth century) (ICP)[18]
• Statues of Jikokuten and Bishamonten (late Kamakura period) (ICP)[19]
• Statue of Jizō Bosatsu (1256) (ICP)[20]
• Pendant disc of Yakushi triad (1366) (ICP)[21]
• Pendant disc (Kamakura period) (ICP)[22]
• Seated statue of Gyōki[23]
• Seated statue of Bodhisena[24]

Jūrokusho Jinja

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]

See also

• List of National Treasures of Japan (temples)
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Yamato

References

1. "The Founding and History of the Temple". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
2. "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
3. "Hondō". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 28 August 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
4. "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
5. "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
6. "Sanjūnotō". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
7. "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
8. "Shōrō". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
9. "Wall painting inside the three-storey pagoda". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
10. "Yakushi Nyorai". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
11. "Nikkō & Gakkō Bosatsu". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
12. "Zushi". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
13. "Jūni Shinshō". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
14. "Buddha triad". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 26 May 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
15. "Yakushi Nyorai". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
16. "Dainichi Nyorai". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 26 May 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
17. "Jūichimen Kannon". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
18. "Bishamonten". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
19. "Jikokuten & Bishamonten". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
20. "Jizō Bosatsu". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
21. "Yakushi triad". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
22. "Pendant disc". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 26 May 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
23. "Gyōki Bosatsu". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 26 May 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
24. "Bodhisena". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 26 May 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
25. "Jūrokusho Jinja". Ryōsenji. Archived from the original on 26 May 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
26. "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
27. "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
28. "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 20 April 2011.

External links

• (in English) Ryōsenji - Founding & History
• (in Japanese) Ryōsenji homepage