Nigatsu-dō
Nigatsu-dō (Japanese:
History
[edit]Nigatsu-dō was founded by a monk by the name of Sanetada in 752, but the Buddhist monk Jitchu, a pupil of Rōben, later introduced a repentance service dedicated to the image of the eleven-faced Bodhisattva, Kannon in 760. It has taken place as an annual rite since 760 without any break. The service has come to be known as Shuni-e (
While the first Shuni-e service is said to have been held by Jichu in another temple in 752, the original construction of Nigatsu-dō hall is estimated to have completed only somewhere between 756 and 772. Nigatsu-dō was destroyed in 1667 due to a fire.[3]
- 1667 (Kanbun 7): After fire destroyed the main temple structure, work on rebuilding Nigatsu-dō (
二 月 堂 ) at Nara commenced.[4]
Re-construction of Nigatsu-do is completed in 1669. In 1944, it was chosen by Japan as one of the most important cultural aspects of the country.[3]
Architecture
[edit]Although the hall was saved from civil wars in 1180 and 1567 in which the Great Buddha Hall was lost, it was burnt down during the Shuni-e service of 1667. The hall was rebuilt two years later.
The current main hall of Nigatsu-dō is a designated National Treasure. The hall holds two Kannons, a large one and a small one, although both of them are classified as Hibutsu (
Gallery
[edit]-
The east entrance to Nigatsu-dō Hall
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Wooden stair entrance to Nigatsu-dō
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Nigatsu-dō winter maintenance work
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View from the balcony of Nigatsu-dō
See also
[edit]- Omizutori, the climax of Shuni-e service which takes place on 12 March every year
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Origin of Omizutori". Gyohomiso. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
- ^ Vrik Narayama. "Shuni-e (Ceremony of the Second Month)". Retrieved 19 October 2008.
- ^ a b Nigatsu-do Hall.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 414.
References
[edit]Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 251800045; see also Imprimerie Royale de France, OCLC 311322353