[Gangoji Temple, Nara]

#FuriTabiWinter

A temple located in Nara City that was registered as one of the World Heritage sites "Cultural Assets of Ancient Nara" in 1998

Japan's oldest authentic Buddhist temple, Hoko-ji, was built by Soga no Umako in Asuka, and was relocated to Heijo-kyo when the capital was moved there

It was originally a large temple second only to Todai-ji, and the current "Naramachi" area was apparently the grounds of Gangoji

The main hall, Gokuraku-do, and the Zen room next to it have some reddish and blackish tiles
The tiles in this area These tiles date from when the temple was Hokko-ji in Asuka to the Nara period, and are said to be the oldest in Japan.

As you walk through the temple grounds, the stone towers and stone Buddha statues are particularly eye-catching. There are about 2,500 of them, and many of them date from the end of the Kamakura period to the mid-Edo period.

Gangoji Temple is said to be the birthplace of demons, and it is said that there were demons at Gangoji Temple that would exterminate evil demons. Perhaps for this reason, there are demon figurines placed here and there in the temple grounds.

#Domestic travel #Girls' trip #Solo trip #Temples and shrines #World Heritage Site #Nara #Nara sightseeing #Nara trip

Post by makaji | Dec 6, 2024