Kofuku-ji Temple flourished as the family temple of the Fujiwara clan, and in the Middle Ages, along with Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, it held immense influence as the leading temple and shrine authority.
Numerous Buddhist statues and pagodas were made, but after the Meiji period they fell into disrepair and very little remains today.
In this article, we will introduce the temple grounds, as well as its history and the highlights of its buildings.
#Kofuku-ji Temple #Cultural Assets of the Ancient Capital of Nara #World Heritage
Table of Contents
0:00 Introduction
1:05 The unique lack of a sense of flow and the hardships of the Meiji period
2:22 The history of the founding, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and the strong petition of the warrior monks
4:56 The front gate of Kofuku-ji Temple, which flourished second only to Kyoto in the Middle Ages
6:07 The five-story pagoda features bold and powerful joinery
8:20 The East Golden Hall, which shows the power of Kofuku-ji Temple, which was rebuilt every time it burned down
9:20 The National Treasure Museum, where you can see many famous treasures, including the Ashura statue
13:23 The Middle Golden Hall, rebuilt in 2018, and the financial difficulties of the Edo period
14:25 Zelkova from Cameroon and the wood needed for temple construction
18:05 The South Round Hall, built in memory of Fujiwara no Uchimaro
18:47 The North Round Hall, built in memory of Fujiwara no Fuhito
19:37 A fine example of elegant Heian-period Buddhist architecture: a three-story pagoda
22:17 Separation of Shinto and Buddhism and the destruction of Buddhism in the Meiji period
23:17 Hozoin-ryu sickle spear technique originating at Kofuku-ji Temple