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Empress Komyo |
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Flower Arrangement Koike Goryu |
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| Location and Accommodation |
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| Chantry Encouraged |
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Tips: Special Discount Offer |
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A signed article from The Daily Yomiuri (jpeg format) |
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The article is shown here under the permission of The Daily Yomiuri Japan. ⒸTHE DAILY YOMIURI(2010) |
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kokubun-ji - provincial temples (国分寺: kokubun-ji for monks; 国分尼寺: kokubun-niji for nuns) established by
Emperor Shōmu in
each province of Japan.
Tōdai-ji served as the head of all the
kokubun-ji and Hokke-ji of
the kokubun-niji.
Kannon (観音)- the goddess of mercy and compassion.
Hokkeji was established as a convent in 745 by Empress Komyo, wife of Emperor
Shomu, and it became the central convent in the system of provincial monasteries
and nunneries that they founded. Hokkeji convent was once her imperial
residence(Himuro Gosho), which she inherited from her father. It is known
both for its elegant garden and its 9th-century sacred sandalwood statue
of an Eleven-headed Kannon bodhisattva, a masterpiece of Buddhist art and
a national treasure. This main object of worship is on view only three
times a year, but at other times, an exact replica is always on view. The
replica is likewise made of sandalwood and was sent as a gift from the
government of India 50 years ago.
The Eleven-headed Kannon,
carved in a simple wood
in the image of Empress Komyo.
The convent garden
The Main
Worship Hall
of Hokkeji
Convent
Hokkeji temple and Empress Komyo, Nara, Japan
Japan, visit Hokkeji, Nara
Woman, See Empress Komyo at Hokkeji, Nara
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Copyright(C) Shukyo Hojin, Komyo-shu Hokkeji. All Rights Reserved.