Hokki-ji, Buddhist temple and National Treasure in Ikaruga, Japan
Hokki-ji is a Buddhist temple in Ikaruga featuring a three-story pagoda built using traditional Japanese wooden construction methods and standing about 24 meters tall. The complex includes multiple buildings from different periods spread across the grounds.
Prince Yamashiro established Hokki-ji in 638, making it one of the earliest temples built during Buddhism's spread across Japan. The complex was expanded over time and became one of the country's major religious centers.
The temple houses an 11-faced statue of Avalokitesvara from the 10th century, still on display for visitors to see, embodying Buddhist teachings about compassion.
The temple grounds are open to visitors who can walk through and explore the main buildings and pagoda. Wear comfortable shoes and allow time to view the structures in detail, as there is much to observe.
Archaeological excavations revealed that the temple stands on the former site of Okamoto no Miya palace, where lectures on the Lotus Sutra took place. This connection to a royal residence shows the site's early importance to Buddhist learning in Japan.
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