Kimpusen-ji, Buddhist temple in Yoshino, Japan
Kimpusen-ji is a Buddhist temple in Yoshino that includes the Zaō Hall, the second largest wooden structure in Japan, dedicated to the deity Zaō gongen. The grounds extend across the forested slope of Mount Yoshino, connecting multiple buildings through staircases and paved pathways.
En no Gyōja founded the site in the 7th century as a center for mountain asceticism, establishing the foundation for Shugendō development. The Zaō Hall has been rebuilt multiple times, most recently after a late 16th-century fire under the Toyotomi shogunate.
The complex serves as headquarters for the Kinpusen-Shugendō tradition, which merges Buddhist teachings with the veneration of sacred mountains. Pilgrims and visitors experience this synthesis through rituals and ceremonies that still take place inside the hall today.
Access follows pilgrimage routes through the Kii Mountain Range, with steep ascents requiring sturdy footwear. Guided tours run throughout the year and help visitors understand the religious significance of the site.
The interior of the Zaō Hall contains three colossal statues of Zaō gongen, each standing over 23 feet (7 meters) tall, normally kept veiled. These figures are revealed to the public only during rare ceremonial occasions, adding to their mystique.
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