Kiburi-ji, Buddhist temple in Ono, Japan
Kiburi-ji is a Buddhist temple in Ono, Japan, with several buildings arranged around the Jōdodō, which serves as the main hall and follows traditional Japanese Buddhist architectural style. The grounds bring together worship spaces and quieter areas that support religious practice.
The temple was founded in 715 by the priest Gyōki, making it one of the older religious sites in the region. It was largely destroyed during Oda Nobunaga's military campaigns in 1560 and later rebuilt with the support of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
The temple holds scroll paintings from the Heian period showing protective Buddhist deities, recognized as National Treasures of Japan. Visitors who take time to observe them can sense the reverence that surrounds these works during the visit.
The temple sits in the Ono area and is best explored on foot once you are in the neighborhood. As with most Buddhist temples in Japan, visitors are expected to move quietly and avoid disturbing any ongoing religious activities.
The Amitabha Triad kept at the temple was carved by the sculptor Kaikei in the late 1100s and stands as a notable example of medieval Japanese sculpture. Kaikei was known for a refined style that set him apart from other sculptors working at the same time.
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