応其寺, Buddhist temple in Hashimoto, Japan
Anyoji is a Buddhist temple in Hashimoto with multiple traditional buildings spanning different historical periods, including a main hall, tea rooms, and gates. The grounds contain a ceiling painting of the Thunder Dragon that was created in 2002 to mark the temple's 800th anniversary.
Founded in 1202, the temple followed the architectural style of public temples from China's Zhejiang Province. This early date makes it one of Japan's oldest Zen temples and reflects significant Chinese influence on early Japanese temple design.
The temple displays works by artists such as Tahara and Hashimoto Kansetsu throughout its buildings. These pieces reflect how the temple continues to serve as a place where people come to experience Japanese artistic traditions.
Visitors can walk through the temple grounds to view the various buildings and artworks spread across the site. Some inner rooms may have restricted access, so it is worth asking staff about what areas are open to explore.
The temple received architectural elements as donations from nearby religious institutions over the centuries. These accumulated contributions were incorporated into the existing structures, making the compound a mosaic of different building traditions.
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