Kokushō-ji, 近江国滋賀郡古市郷にあった古代寺院
Kokushō-ji is a former Buddhist provincial temple in Shiga that was built during the Nara period as part of a nationwide system. The site consists of modest buildings, old stones, and foundations that show traces of its original structure with a pagoda and Buddhist statues.
The temple was founded during the Nara period under Emperor Shomu following a smallpox epidemic as a way to extend central authority into the provinces. Over centuries political conditions changed and government support declined, causing the temple to gradually fall into disuse.
The temple served as a center for Buddhist teachings and local religious gatherings that shaped daily life in the province. Today local people maintain these traditions through occasional visits and ceremonies that continue to connect the site to spiritual practice.
The site is located in a rural area and remains less crowded, offering a peaceful environment for exploration. The grounds are small so visitors should plan to walk slowly and take time to observe the old foundations and remaining structures.
The temple was part of an ambitious nationwide program where each province was to receive its own temple building with a seven-story pagoda meant to connect heaven and earth. Today visitors can still see the pagoda foundations through archaeological work that reveals the scale of this original undertaking.
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