Nigatsu-dō

Nigatsu-dō (二月堂)

The stairs leading to Nigatsu-dō Hall

Nigatsu-dō (二月堂, "The Hall of the Second Month"^?) is one of the important structures of Tōdai-ji, a temple in Nara, Japan. Nigatsu-dō is located to the east of the Great Buddha Hall, on the hillside of Mount Wakakusa. It includes several other buildings in addition to the specific hall named Nigatsu-dō, thus comprising its own sub-complex within Tōdai-ji. ^[1]

History

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 (修二会, lit. Second-Month Service), as it was held in the second month of the traditional lunisolar calendar. At present, it starts on March 1 and ends on the 15th of the month. ^[2] Omizutori, which means taking sacred water, has become the popular name of the ceremony.

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

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 (秘仏) - "secret Buddhas" - and therefore are not publicly shown.

Additional Images

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  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

• Omizutori, the climax of Shuni-e service which takes place on March 12th every year.
• For an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture, see the Glossary of Japanese Buddhism.

Notes

1. ^ "Origin of Omizutori". Gyohomiso. http://www.gyohomiso.com/english/english_home.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-19. 
2. ^ "Shuni-e (Ceremony of the Second Month)". http://www.kcn.ne.jp/~narayama/omizutori/shunie-e.html. Retrieved 2008-10-19. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Nigatsu-do Hall.
4. ^ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 414.

References

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