Ryūkō-in, Buddhist temple in Kōya, Japan.
Ryūkō-in is a Buddhist temple in Kōya featuring wooden buildings arranged around traditional Japanese gardens and architectural spaces. The complex sits within mountain forests and contains areas for meditation, study, and the daily routines of monastic life.
The temple was founded in the early 9th century by Kūkai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, as part of his efforts to establish Buddhism in the mountains. Its creation marked a key moment in transforming Kōya into a major center for Buddhist learning and practice.
The temple remains an active place where daily monastic life unfolds, showing how Buddhist practice shapes the rhythm of the community. Visitors can observe this living tradition through the routines and spaces dedicated to meditation and study.
Visitors should be prepared for mountain terrain and wear comfortable shoes, as the temple sits within forests and gardens that require walking to explore. Many activities take place indoors, but moving between buildings and areas involves moving through the grounds.
The temple holds National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, including Buddhist texts from the Nara period and artworks from the Heian era. These rare objects provide a window into Japanese Buddhist artistic traditions across several centuries of development.
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