Bairin-ji, Buddhist temple in Tsushima, Japan
Bairin-ji is a Buddhist temple perched on a hillside near Tsushima, featuring traditional Japanese architecture with a Chinese-style entrance gate decorated with carved ornaments. The complex houses hundreds of artworks spanning different periods, along with religious artifacts of historical importance.
The temple originated as the family shrine of a prominent noble clan and later became their burial ground. Its construction and collections reflect centuries of patronage by clan members who shaped its development.
The temple displays paintings and sculptures that reflect the artistic tastes of its patrons across different periods. These works show how artistic styles evolved within the temple community over generations.
Entry requires advance arrangement since the temple functions as an active place of worship and daily religious practice. Visitors should be prepared to respect the space and maintain respectful conduct as you would in any working shrine.
A carved stone platform in the courtyard bears grooves aligned to the cardinal directions, once used for tracking celestial events and determining calendar seasons. This tool reveals how temples applied knowledge of astronomy and timekeeping in their daily activities.
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