Harima Kokubunji, Buddhist temple in Himeji, Japan
Harima Kokubunji is a Buddhist temple in Himeji built on a river terrace along the left bank of the Ichi River with traditional Japanese architectural features. The original temple complex included a main hall, a pagoda, a lecture hall, and quarters where monks lived.
Emperor Shomu ordered the construction of this provincial temple in 741 during the Nara period as part of a nationwide temple network. After later disruptions, it received support for reconstruction from the Himeji Domain in the 1600s and again from a Shogun in the mid-1600s.
The temple follows Shingon Buddhist traditions that continue to shape its religious practices and ceremonies today. You can observe these living traditions in the way the space is maintained and used for worship.
The temple sits on an elevated river terrace that offers natural protection from flooding and shapes how the space is arranged. Visitors should expect uneven terrain and traditional access points typical of historical temple sites.
Archaeological digs uncovered the original foundations of the temple buildings, allowing researchers to map out exactly how the complex was arranged in ancient times. These discoveries reveal how provincial temples were designed and organized during the founding period.
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