Monju-in, Buddhist temple in Nakajuku, Japan
Monju-in is a Buddhist temple in Nakajuku featuring a main hall with single-bay nagare-zukuri design, shake wooden roofing, and multiple wooden structures distributed across the grounds. The layout follows traditional Japanese temple organization with distinct areas for worship and visitor access.
The main building was reconstructed in 1665 following a series of fires that had damaged earlier structures on the site. Inscriptions dating to 1203 found inside the principal Manjusri statue record the names of fifty original donors.
Students leave wooden tablets with written wishes for academic success at this temple, reflecting Monju's role as a deity of wisdom and learning in Japanese Buddhist practice.
The temple is open to visitors and offers information about its architectural features and religious objects throughout the site. Wearing comfortable footwear is recommended as you will walk around different areas of the temple grounds.
The temple houses a seven-meter-tall statue group showing Manjusri seated on a lion with four attendant figures surrounding the main deity. This arrangement is a rare example of complex Buddhist imagery in the area.
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