Murō-ji
Murō-ji | |
---|---|
![]() Gojyu Pagoda, part of the temple complex | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Buddhism |
Rite | Omoto Shingon |
Location | |
Location | Uda, Nara Prefecture |
Country | Japan |
Geographic coordinates | 34°32′16.39″N 136°2′26.22″E / 34.5378861°N 136.0406167°E |
Architecture | |
Date established | 8th century |
Website | |
www |
Murō-ji (Japanese:
Unlike many temples of the time, Murō-ji was opened to females.[1] For that reason, the temple is also called Mount Kōya for women.
Its five storied pagoda is one of the oldest standing pagodas in Japan, dating its construction to the 9th century.
History
[edit]While legend has it that the temple was founded by the monk En no Gyōja by order of Emperor Tenmu, and later restored by Kūkai, an extant record kept by the temple, Murō-ji ryaku engi (
Historically, the temple acted as a place of worship for a Japanese dragon spirit associated with Ryūjin known as Zennyo Ryūō (
During most of its history, Murō-ji was a subtemple of Kōfuku-ji, from the nearby city of Nara. Monks from Kofuku-ji were regularly sent to Murō-ji for summer prayer retreats, or sanrō (
Present
[edit]Worship of the Murō dragon continues to the present day in the form of a festival called the Autumn Ryūketsu Shrine festival. During the month of October, two figures of a dragon in straw are placed on the grounds of Murō-ji and on the road to the Shinto Ryūketsu Shrine. The next day, the head priest of Murō-ji begins a procession between the temple and the Ryūketsu Shrine, stopping to conduct rituals in favor of the two straw dragon figures. While rain prayer practices are absent, the Murō dragon still serves as an important tradition of the temple and the nearby Shinto shrine.[2]
Among the buildings that remain on the temple complex from the ninth century is the five-storied pagoda, which is the smallest of the kind standing in the open air. The pagoda suffered major damage in a 1998 typhoon, when a falling tree struck it. It was restored over the following two years.
See also
[edit]- List of National Treasures of Japan (temples)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (paintings)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (sculptures)
References
[edit]- ^ "Treasure trove awaits visitors at Murouji temple in Nara". asahi.com. 2020-10-08.
- ^ a b c "In Search of the Dragon: Mt. Murō's Sacred Topography". Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. Vol. 24. Nanzan University. 1997. pp. 145–161.
- Young, David; Michiko Young; Tan Hong Yew; Ben Simmons; Murata Noboru (2007). The Art of Japanese Architecture. Tuttle Publishing. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-8048-3838-2.
- Mimura, Isao (
三村 威 左 男 ) (2005). Five-storied pagodas in Japan (日本 の五重塔 総覧 ) (in Japanese). Bungeisha. p. 185. ISBN 4-8355-9083-X.
External links
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