KŌFUKU-JI

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful temples in Nara, Kōfuku-ji has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1998. It was the headquarters of the Hossō sect, which professes that all phenomena are projections of the spirit. Tutelary temple of the Fujiwara, a dynasty founded in 669 in Yamashina by Kamatari Fujiwara (614-669), patriarch of the Fujiwara dynasty that ruled Japan until the 12th century. The son, Fuhitōfujiwara, with the support of the empress Genshō (681-748) and the emperor Shōmu (689-756), had the temple dismantled and moved to Nara in 710. It was, at the time, one of the first religious establishments in the new capital. It belonged to what was called the Nanto Shichi Daiji, that is to say the "seven great temples", which included the following Buddhist temples spread in the ancient city of Nara: Daian-ji, Gango-ji, Horyu-ji, Kofuku-ji, Saidai-ji, Todai-ji and Yakushi-ji. Many of them are still visible today and reveal the splendor of the capital. Originally, the temple consisted of 175 buildings. Its present appearance is what remained of the original temple after the fire of 1717. When you visit this huge complex, you can see the following buildings:

The mainGolden Pavilion burned seven times. It was only recently rebuilt to its original proportions, and reopened in October 2018. It houses, among other things, Boddisattva statues from the Kamakura period, and the Hossō pillar with portraits of all the patriarchs of the sect.

Hokuendō. Small octagonal hall, built in memory of Fuhitōfujiwara in 1143 and restored in 1208.

Sanjū-no-tō. A famous 3-story pagoda, symbolic of Nara, it houses beautifully painted Buddhas.

Tō-kon-dō (Eastern Golden Pavilion). Dedicated to Empress Genshō and built in 726, it was restored in 1415 for the last time.

Other buildings: On the other side, the Western Golden Pavilion, the Sai-Kon-dō.

Opposite the Gojūnotō Pagoda is the Nan En-dō, another octagonal building founded in 843 by Fuyutsugu Fujiwara and which was restored in 1741. Of note is a statue of Kannon executed by Kokei in 1189. As for the pagoda, it is five stories high. It is one of the highest in the country.

Kokuho-kan. National Treasures Museum, it is the most recent building of the site which was built in 1959 to house and protect the wonders of Nara temples.

Sarusawa Pond reflects the five-story pagoda on full moon nights.