Kongōbu-ji, Buddhist temple in Kōya, Japan
Kongōbu-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kōya, Japan, and serves as the headquarters of the Shingon school. The complex consists of several wooden halls with tatami floors connected by covered corridors, and houses gilded sliding doors and large rooms for ceremonies and receptions.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi had the building constructed in 1593 to honor his mother. It later gained status as the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism and underwent several restorations to maintain its role as the central temple.
The name means Temple of the Diamond Peak and reflects the core teaching of the Shingon school. Monks still live here and perform their ceremonies in the inner rooms, while visitors walk through the quiet corridors and see the sliding doors painted with cranes.
You must remove your shoes before entering and receive slippers at the entrance. The main halls are open every day from morning until evening, and the route takes you through several rooms where you should walk quietly on the wooden floors.
The Banryutei rock garden was created only in 1984 and is one of the younger features on the temple grounds. The stones come from Shikoku island and were arranged according to traditional principles to represent dragons and clouds.
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