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Kohfukuji Temple

Fujiwara Clan Family Temple

Kofukuji Temple in Nara is the grand headquarters of the Hosso School of Buddhism and was founded in the 7th century A.D. by the powerful Fujiwara clan and is considered to be the clan's family temple. Inside the Kofukuji Temple, the Northern Round Hall, Three-storied Pagoda, and East Golden Hall are all national treasures of Japan, and the 50-meter-tall Five-storied Pagoda is a Nara landmark.

In 669 A.D., the Fujiwara, a powerful Japanese clan, founded Yamashina Temple in present-day Kyoto City, which was the predecessor of Kofukuji Temple 興福寺. After two moves, the temple was moved to its present location in the center of Nara City in 710 and renamed Kofukuji Temple. Historically, Kofukuji Temple had strong economic and military power due to the protection of the Fujiwara clan and the Emperor.

Manywhere Trivia:
The rise and fall of Kofukuji Temple has been a roller coaster: when it was strong, it built its own army of monks and soldiers, and even Kasuga Taisha Shrine was part of it, but when it was in decline, the building was in ruins and even the five-story pagoda was forced to be sold.

In 710, Central Golden Hall, the first hall in the temple, was built, which was the center of the temple and had been damaged by fire seven times. After another 301 years, it was rebuilt for the eighth time in 2018, restored to its original appearance again. On the east and west sides of the Central Golden Hall, there are Eastern and Western Golden Halls (Western Golden Hall is no longer in existence now), which form a unique and representative Garan layout.

Stone Steps Leading to the Temple

The Eastern Golden Hall was built in 726 by Emperor Shomu. The current building was restored in 1915 and houses national treasures and important cultural properties such as the statue of Yakushi Nyorai Triad, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and the Four Heavenly Kings. On the side of Eastern Golden Hall stands a 50.1-meter-tall Five-story Pagoda, known as the second tallest pagoda in Japan, which is only shorter than The Five-story Pagoda of Toji Temple, Kyoto.

Inside Kofukuji Temple, there are also two octagonal halls, Northern Round Hall 北円堂 and Southern Round Hall 南円堂, named according to their orientation. The Northern Round Hall was rebuilt in 1210, and is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Kofukuji Temple. Inside the hall are national treasures such as the statue of Maitreya Nyorai, the statue of Mujaku and Seshin Bodhisattvas, all of which were sculpted by the hand of Unkei, a most famous sculptor of the Kamakura period.

The Southern Round Hall was originally built in 813, and is only open on October 17 every year to exhibit the national treasures inside, such as the statue of Fukukensaku Kannon, six seated statues of Japanese patriarchs of the Hosso School, as well as standing statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, which were made by sculptor Kokei. The National Treasure, Three-storied Pagoda near the Southern Round Hall is also nearly 1,000 years old, with more than 1,000 lifelike statues of Buddha carved on the four walls of its first floor.

Sarusawa Pond,A Paradise for Wild Ducks and Waterfowl

Outside the south gate of Kofukuji Temple is a crescent Sarusawa Pond 猿沢池. The pond surrounded by greenery and the reflections of the Five-storied Pagoda and the Southern Round Hall, is a perfect resting place for pedestrians.