Gantokuji, Buddhist temple in Kadoma, Japan
Gantokuji is a Buddhist temple in Kadoma featuring traditional wooden buildings, including a main hall where sacred objects are displayed behind ornate doors. The grounds contain several structures with characteristic roofing and a peaceful cemetery section with family burial areas.
The temple was founded several centuries ago and displays the architectural development of Japanese Buddhist shrines. Its building style was shaped by Chinese and other Asian construction traditions.
The temple bell rings on important dates throughout the year, and local families come regularly to tend ancestral graves located on the temple grounds.
Remove your shoes before entering the temple buildings to follow Buddhist etiquette. Keep quiet during prayer times and be mindful not to disturb other visitors or monks on the grounds.
The main hall houses a notable seated statue of Kannon showing an androgynous portrayal of the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. This iconographic form is uncommon in Japanese Buddhist art tradition and attracts both scholars and pilgrims.
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