Hōon-ji, Buddhist temple in Yonezawa, Japan.
Hōon-ji is a Buddhist temple in Yonezawa with traditional Japanese wooden halls including the main Hondo hall and the adjacent Rakan-do hall. The buildings display typical Buddhist architecture with wooden construction that houses 499 carved rakan figures.
The temple was founded in 737 by Buddhist monk Gyoki during the Nara period and has served as a spiritual center for over twelve centuries. Its long history shows how the site remained important to local Buddhist communities across different eras.
The rakan statues were created by nine Buddhist masters from Kyoto who shaped each wooden figure with distinct facial expressions and poses using lacquer techniques. These 499 figures form a gallery of discipleship that visitors walk through, showing how artistry and religious devotion come together.
The temple grounds are typically open during daytime hours and visitors should dress respectfully as it is a religious site. The rakan figures are housed in indoor halls and are best viewed in natural daylight.
Among the 499 rakan figures are unexpected representations of historical figures such as Marco Polo and Kublai Khan mixed in with Buddhist disciples. This unusual choice shows how the artists blended different cultures and religions into the Buddhist imagery.
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