Negoro-ji Temple, Buddhist temple in Iwade, Japan
Negoro-ji is a Buddhist temple in the Katsuragi Mountains near Iwade that spreads across a forested hillside. The complex contains several buildings, including a Tahō-tō pagoda notable for its size and protected as a national treasure.
Kakuban's community began on Mount Kōya, where his residence was burned in 1140; he then moved to the Hirota estate and founded Negoro-ji. In 1288 Raiyū transferred the Daidenbō-in there, establishing the Shingi Shingon school. The temple grew into a fortified city of 450 chapels and 10,000 matchlock-armed monks, but Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 1585 siege burned most of it; the Daishi-dō and Daitō survived.
The grounds display halls from multiple centuries that visitors can walk through, offering insight into temple construction across different periods. The site continues to function as a center for the Shingi-Shingon sect and is used by worshippers for religious practice.
The grounds are located at 2286 Negoro in Iwade city and can be reached by train and bus from nearby stations. Paths between buildings run over paved walkways and stairs, with the terrain featuring slopes.
The Daitō pagoda still bears visible bullet holes from the 1585 siege that remain as witnesses to the militant past of the site. These marks are visible to visitors on the wooden structure of the building and recall the role of the monk army.
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