Hida Kokubun-ji, Buddhist temple in Takayama, Japan.
Hida Kokubun-ji is a Buddhist temple in Takayama featuring a three-story pagoda, a main hall housing multiple statues, and a 1250-year-old ginkgo tree on its grounds. The compound displays the typical layout of a provincial temple from this period, with separate buildings and garden areas.
This temple was founded in 746 CE under Emperor Shomu's decree to build provincial temples throughout the country for national protection. This founding period reflects the religious and political importance these temples held in the imperial realm.
The main hall displays several Buddhist statues, including the principal image of Yakushi Buddha and Bodhisattva Kannon. Visitors can see these figures as they are central to the spiritual practices observed at this place.
The temple is located within a 5-minute walk from Takayama Station, making it easily accessible. Visitors should note that certain ceremonies take place on specific days, and the grounds offer different atmospheres depending on the season.
Beneath the current three-story pagoda lie stone foundations of an original seven-story structure, with the central foundation stone made from local rhyolite. These remains reveal how the temple's structure changed over the centuries.
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