Kohfukuji Temple

Kohfukuji Temple

興福寺

Originally founded in the 7th century. 2010 marks the 1300 anniversary of the foundation of this temple. The five-story pagoda, a symbol of Nara City, was reconstructed about 500 years ago (1426) after it had burned down five times. A lot of national treasures and cultural treasures are exhibited at the temple's museum, Kokuhokan.

法相宗の大本山として知られる奈良の興福寺。五重塔で有名ですが国宝館に展示されている阿修羅像はもっと有名です。興福寺を訪れたら国宝館も忘れずに見学しましょう。

Kohfukuji Temple

興福寺

About Kohfukuji Temple

 http://www.kohfukuji.com/english.html

Google map
https://goo.gl/maps/LkyPHpK6ALL2

National Treasures

The Eastern Golden Hall (Lt), The Five Storied Pagoda (Rt)
国宝　東金堂、五重塔

 We can see the various statues, paintings, books, craftworks and historical documents at the National Treasures Museum, Kokuhokan. 

国宝館もお見逃しなく

The standing Asura

阿修羅像

source https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/ASURA_Kohfukuji.jpg

Shinkansen

Japanese foods are good and safe.
Because of stricter food safety law by Japanese government, we have no worry about foods.

Chagayu ; tea flavoured rice gruel

茶粥


Ekiben ; Box lunch sold on a train or at a station
駅弁

Chawan-mushi　; Japanese steamed egg custard 

茶碗蒸し 

Sushi

寿司

Asari no Miso Shiru ; Miso Soup with Asari Clams
あさりの味噌汁

 About 5 years have passed since Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. I have visited various places of Japan to see the health consequence of the accident.

 Fortunately I have never found any impacts by the nuclear power plant accident among Japanese creatures. As far as I know, nobody has health problem which is caused by the accident in Japan.

 Our Prime Minister Abe assures that "The situation is under control. The influence of the contaminated water is completely blocked within Fukushima. There are no health-related problems until now and there will never be health problems." He also said that "Tokyo is 250 kilometers away from Fukushima, and the kind of danger that you imagine does not exist in Tokyo. Tokyo is a very safe city."

 As PM Abe said, Nara Prefecture is very far away from Fukushima, people in there have no concern about the nuclear power plant accident. People in there have already forgotten the accident, because they think radioactive materials cannot reach there.

 We know there is no problem for childbirth and child rearing in Nara Prefecture. So people in there have no concern about the accident.

 I continue to visit various places in Japan to see the effects of the nuclear power plant accident, because I can meet various creatures which are more sensitive to radioactive materials from the environment. It is important to see their health for our safety.

公衆衛生ネットワーク

Public Health Network in Japan

http://plaza.umin.ac.jp/phnet/

Horyuji temple and Chuguji Temple

Horyuji Temple
法隆寺

Horyuji Temple (法隆寺, Hōryūji) was founded in 607 by Prince Shotoku, who is credited with the early promotion of Buddhism in Japan. Horyuji is one of the country's oldest temples and contains the world's oldest surviving wooden structures. It was designated a world heritage site in 1993. Horyuji's temple grounds are spacious and separated into two main precincts, the Western Precinct (Saiin Garan) and the Eastern Precinct (Toin Garan).　source http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4104.html

法隆寺は聖徳太子が607年に建立した飛鳥時代の姿を現在に伝える世界最古の木造建築物です。我が国最古の五重塔もここにあります。法隆寺夢殿に隣接して中宮寺があり、御本尊の菩薩半跏像（伝如意輪観音）は飛鳥時代の彫刻の最高傑作といわれています。

These pictures were taken on July 2015.

Nandaimon

South main Gate

南大門

The grounds of Horyuji Temple house the world's oldest surviving wooden structures, conveying images of Japan as it existed more than 1,300 years ago, during the Asuka Period (A.D.mid 6th-beginning of 8th c.). 

source http://www.horyuji.or.jp/horyuji_e.htm

Chumon

Central gate

中門

There are Statues of Kongo Rikishi at the gate.
金剛力士像

 The central gate is guarded by Japan's two oldest statues of Kongo Rikishi, the pair of muscular deities often seen at large temple gates.

Daikodo

Great Lecture Hall

大講堂

Statue of a seated figure of the Yakushi Nyorai

 Yakushi Nyorai ; Bhaisajyaguru (buddha able to cure all ills)

Kairo

Cloister-Gallery

廻廊

Kondo ; Main Hall (Lt)

Gojyu-no-To ; Five-Story Pagoda (Rt)

金堂（左）　五重塔（右）

Kudara Kannondo

The Kudara Kannon Hall

百済観音堂

Todaimon

East Main Gate

東大門

Yumedono

Hall of Visions

夢殿

Chuguji Temple
中宮寺

Chuguji Temple was originally constructed upon the request of the Empress Anahobe no Hashihito, the mother of Prince Shotoku in the Asuka period(592-710). The original location of Chuguji Temple was 500m east of its current location. It is believed that Horyuji Temple, next to Chuguji Temple, was originally designed as a monastery while Chuguji Temple as a nunnery.

The Sitting Bodhisattva with One Leg Pendent, a National Treasure, is the main deity (honzon) of the Main hall. The statue is a magnum opus of Asuka period sculpture. Its elegant posture with its fingers touching the cheek represents the purity and grace of the Buddhist redemption of mankind.

The Sitting Bodhisattva with One Leg Pendent

国宝　菩薩半跏像（伝如意輪観音）

source http://nara.jr-central.co.jp/walk/mc2.html

Main hall

本堂

Japanese foods are good and safe.

Because of stricter food safety law by Japanese government, we have no worry about foods.

Kaki Udon ; persimmon flavored Udon
柿うどん

Kakinoha-zushi ; Sushi wrapped with a persimmon leaf, and is one of the local Japanese dishes in Nara

柿の葉寿司

Chirashi-zushi ; a style of sushi where the topping is placed on a bed of rice

ちらし寿司

 About 5 years have passed since Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. I have visited various places of Japan to see the health consequence of the accident.

 Fortunately I have never found any impacts by the accident among Japanese creatures. As far as I know, nobody has health problem which is caused by the accident in Japan.

 Our Prime Minister Abe assures that "The situation is under control. The influence of the contaminated water is completely blocked within Fukushima. There are no health-related problems until now and there will never be health problems." He also said that "Tokyo is 250 kilometers away from Fukushima, and the kind of danger that you imagine does not exist in Tokyo. Tokyo is a very safe city."

 As PM Abe said, Nara Prefecture is very far away from Fukushima, people in there have no concern about the nuclear power plant accident. People in there have already forgotten the accident, because they think radioactive materials cannot reach there.

 We know there is no problem for childbirth and child rearing in Nara Prefecture. So people in there have no concern about the accident.

 I continue to visit various places in Japan to see the effects of the accident, because I can meet various creatures which are more sensitive to radioactive materials from the environment. It is important to see their health for our safety.

公衆衛生ネットワーク

Public Health Network in Japan

http://plaza.umin.ac.jp/phnet/

Toshidaiji Temple

Toshidaiji Temple

World Heritage watching ; Toshidaiji Temple

唐招提寺

Toshidaiji temple was founded by Chinese Buddhist priest Jianzhen, Ganjin in Japanese, in 759 as an institute dedicated to the learning of Buddhist commandments. 

Several buildings in this temple date back to the 8th century. Among them, the main hall is the structure of the 8th century remaining, and the lecture hall is a building used at Heijo Palace.

唐招提寺は、唐の高僧鑑真和上が759年に建立したお寺です。聖武天皇に招かれ、12年もの間、幾度にも及ぶ苦難の末に来日を果たした逸話が有名です。奈良時代（8世紀）に建立された金堂と講堂は国宝です。

These pictures were taken on July 2015.

Nandai-mon ; Southern Great Gate

南大門

 Toshodaiji Temple is located in what seems today to be the outskirts of Nara, but this area was a central block of the city when it was the capital of Japan about 1250 years ago. It was in 759 that the Emperor at that time granted the former residence of Emperor Tenmu’s son, Prince Neetabay Shin-no, for the establishment of Toshodaiji Temple. The name is derived from the facts that its first abbot Ganjin was from Toh, or the Tang Dynasty in China, and that it was founded as a place for Buddhist training under his guidance.  Toshodaiji was the first temple in Japan to be devoted to one of the Chinese Buddhist denominations --- namely the Nanzan school. Even today Toshodaiji is regarded as the head temple of Japan’s Ritsu-shu denomination of Buddhist teachings.

About Toshidaiji Temple

http://www.toshodaiji.jp/english/index.html

Google map
https://goo.gl/maps/Y6yrCtNwMUP2

Kondo; Golden Hall or Main Hall 

金堂

Kondo is the greatest Tempyo Era structure (of the 8th century) remaining in Japan today. 

Kondo Naijin ; Inner sanctum

金堂内陣

source http://nara.jr-central.co.jp/walk/mc2.html

Kodo; Lecture Hall

講堂 

During the 8th Century, Buddhist temples were not only places for religious training but for learning in general; and the Kodo Lecture Hall was used as an assembly and lecture hall for all the surrounding temples. Today the Kodo alone has miraculously remained until today.

Azekura ;  wooden repositories

校倉（あぜくら）

There are two azekura, or wooden repositories. The southern one was for the storage of precious sutras, and the northern one for treasures. Both were built even before the famous Shoso-in azekura in Todaiji Temple which was constructed in 756.

Gobyou； Ganjin’s tomb

鑑真和上御廟

Lotus

蓮

Japanese foods are good and safe.

Because of stricter food safety law by Japanese government, we have no worry about foods.

Lemonade

レモネード

Breakfast

 4 years have passed since Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. I have visited various places of Japan to see the health consequence of the accident.

 Fortunately I have never found any impacts by the accident among Japanese creatures. As far as I know, nobody has health problem which is caused by the accident in Japan.

 Our Prime Minister Abe assures that "The situation is under control. The influence of the contaminated water is completely blocked within Fukushima. There are no health-related problems until now and there will never be health problems." He also said that "Tokyo is 250 kilometers away from Fukushima, and the kind of danger that you imagine does not exist in Tokyo. Tokyo is a very safe city."

 As PM Abe said, Nara Prefecture is very far away from Fukushima, people in there have no concern about the nuclear power plant accident. People in there have already forgotten the accident, because they think radioactive materials cannot reach there.

 We know there is no problem for childbirth and child rearing in Nara Prefecture. So people in there have no concern about the accident.

 I continue to visit various places in Japan to see the effects of the accident, because I can meet various creatures which are more sensitive to radioactive materials from the environment. It is important to see their health for our safety.

公衆衛生ネットワーク

Public Health Network in Japan

http://plaza.umin.ac.jp/phnet/

Yakushiji Temple

World Heritage watching ; Yakushiji Temple

Yakushiji Temple

薬師寺

 Originally founded in 680, this temple prospered under the patronage of the imperial court in the 8th century.

Since that time, the temple was to tragically lose all of its buildings to fire, with the exception of its east pagoda.

Restoration work has continued since 1967, and today, visitors can see many buildings reconstructed by using traditional methods and techniques.

奈良の薬師寺は「法相宗［ほっそうしゅう］」の大本山です。天武天皇により発願（680）、持統天皇によって本尊開眼（697）、更に文武天皇の御代に至り、飛鳥の地において堂宇の完成を見ました。その後、平城遷都（710）に伴い現在地に移されたものです。（718）

現在は平成10年よりユネスコ世界遺産に登録されています。

These pictures were taken on July 2015.

Yakushiji Temple

About Yakushiji Temple

http://www.nara-yakushiji.com/index.html

Google map

https://goo.gl/maps/hvhvVRtuegm

 Yakushiji Temple was built in the year 680 by the Emperor Tenmu, praying for a cure to the illness of Uno-no-Sararahime-Miko (Empress under Emperor Tenmu, and later the Empress Jito). The temple was originally located in Fujiwara-kyo (the capital city from 694 to 710). In 718, it was moved to its present location in the capital at Nara. Due to numerous fires, including the flames of war, the only building that remains of the temple of that period is the To-to (the eastern pagoda, of the two pagodas situated on the east and west). This pagoda is designated as a National Treasure. The Kon-do (the hall that enshrines the main deity) was restored in 1976. The Sai-to (the western pagoda) was restored in 1981, with the Chu-mon (the gate situated between Nandai-mon and the main buildings) being restored in 1984, and a portion of the corridor being restored in 1991.The To-to pagoda, which has three roofs, is a three-storied pagoda. This pagoda is especially noteworthy for the small roof-like eaves on each story, which make it look like a six-storied pagoda. The Yakushi-sanzon, which is housed in the Kon-do, is a leading Buddhist image of the 7th century. It was greatly admired by Ernest Fenollosa, an American who contributed to the restoration of traditional Japanese fine art in the 19th century.

source http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spot/shritemp/yakushiji.html

Bell

鐘楼

Daikodo; lecture hall

大講堂

This hall is not only the largest hall in the temple, that is 41m. wide, 20m. deep, and 17m. high but also in the wooden architecture in this century in Japan. This hall enshrines Maitreya Buddha Triad, ( National important art object, Hakuho Period) who was introduced as a reincarnation of the real person of Buddha.

Maitreya Buddha Triad

弥勒三尊像　【重要文化財】　白鳳～天平時代

source http://www.nara-yakushiji.com/guide/hotoke/hotoke_daikodo.html

Kon-do; Main Hall (M)

Sai-to; West Pagoda (Rt)

To-to; East Pagoda (Lt) is under restoration work.

東塔（左）　金堂（中）　西塔（右）

There are some statues in the Main Hall.

Yakushi-sanzon; Yakushi-Triad in the Kondo

薬師三尊像（国宝・白鳳時代）

source http://www.nara-yakushiji.com/guide/hotoke/hotoke_kondo.html

Sai-to; West Pagoda

西塔

There are statues of Buddha in the Pagoda.

source http://www.nara-yakushiji.com/guide/hotoke/hotoke_seito.html

Chu-mon; Middle Gate

中門

Nitennouzou ; Two Heavenly Kings

二天王像

Nan-mon; South Gate

南門

Genjo-sanzoin-Garan

玄奘三蔵院伽藍

Japanese foods are good and safe.
Because of stricter food safety law by Japanese government, we have no worry about foods.

Warabi-mochi ; bracken-starch dumpling

わらび餅

Ekiben ; A box lunch sold at a railroad station

駅弁

Tempura ; deep-fried fish and vegetables in a light batter

天ぷら

 4 years have passed since Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. I have visited various places of Japan to see the health consequence of the accident.

 Fortunately I have never found any impacts by the accident among Japanese creatures. As far as I know, nobody has health problem which is caused by the accident in Japan.

 Our Prime Minister Abe assures that "The situation is under control. The influence of the contaminated water is completely blocked within Fukushima. There are no health-related problems until now and there will never be health problems." He also said that "Tokyo is 250 kilometers away from Fukushima, and the kind of danger that you imagine does not exist in Tokyo. Tokyo is a very safe city."

 As PM Abe said, Nara Prefecture is very far away from Fukushima, people in there have no concern about the nuclear power plant accident. People in there have already forgotten the accident, because they think radioactive materials cannot reach there.

 We know there is no problem for childbirth and child rearing in Nara Prefecture. So people in there have no concern about the accident.

 I continue to visit various places in Japan to see the effects of the accident, because I can meet various creatures which are more sensitive to radioactive materials from the environment. It is important to see their health for our safety.

公衆衛生ネットワーク

Public Health Network in Japan

http://plaza.umin.ac.jp/phnet/