Nōfuku-ji, Buddhist temple in Hyogo, Japan
Nōfuku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Hyogo Prefecture with a main hall that houses a seated Amida Buddha statue flanked by representations of Kannon and Seishi Bodhisattva from the Kamakura period. The site displays the typical arrangement of a temple complex with multiple religious artworks spanning different eras of Japanese history.
The temple was founded in 805 by monk Saicho as one of the first sites for esoteric Buddhist teaching in Japan. Over time it became a prayer center particularly revered by the Heike clan.
The temple houses a wooden statue of Eleven-Faced Kannon that visitors can encounter in its original form today. This representation reflects the classical Buddhist devotion that has been practiced at this site for many centuries.
The temple is located about 10 minutes on foot from Chuo-Ichiba-mae Station on the Kaigan Line of Kobe Municipal Subway, making it easily accessible. A visit during regular hours is recommended, as the site attracts many pilgrims throughout the day.
The temple houses a bronze statue of Vairocana Buddha that was reconstructed and installed at 18 meters tall weighing 60 tons in 1991. This figure stands as one of the largest of its kind in the region and represents a significant scale in modern religious architecture.
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