Sekkoji, Buddhist temple in Katsuragi, Japan.
Sekkoji is a Buddhist temple in Katsuragi featuring stone Buddha statues positioned at the base of Mount Nijo in Nara Prefecture. The complex displays traditional Japanese architectural design with well-maintained gardens throughout its grounds.
The temple was founded in the early 7th century and contains some of the oldest stone Buddha sculptures in Japan. These works document the initial spread of Buddhism throughout the country and its growing influence on local artistic practices.
The temple maintains a deep connection to Japanese garden practices through its extensive peony collection. This horticultural tradition reflects how local communities have valued and preserved certain plants as part of their spiritual spaces.
The temple is accessible by train to Katsuragi Station, with marked pathways leading through the historic district to the site. Spring is an ideal time to visit when the garden flowers bloom and the grounds display their full color.
The grounds feature a historic well called Somenoi connected to a legend about Princess Chujo and the dyeing of lotus threads. This story reveals how local history and spiritual practices became intertwined over time.
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