Hokki-ji

Nihongo|Hokki-ji|法起寺—formerly known as Nihongo|Okamoto-dera|岡本寺 and Nihongo|Ikejiri-dera|池後寺—and also known today as Hōki-ji, is a Buddhist temple in Okamoto, Ikaruga, Nara, Japan. The temple's honorary "sangō" prefix is Nihongo|"Kōhonzan"|岡本山, although it is rarely used. The temple was constructed to honor Avalokitesvara, and an 11-faced statue of the goddess is the primary object of worship in the temple. Hokki-ji is often considered to be one of the seven great temples founded by Prince Shōtoku, however, the temple was not completed until some decades after his death. In 1993, it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the "Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area".

History

Hokki-ji is located in Ikaruga—a town that has long been a focal point of Japanese Buddhism—and the area contains numerous other old temples related to Prince Shotoku, such as Hōrin-ji and Chūgū-ji. Hokki-ji is located in a foothill to the northeast of Hōryū-ji Tō-in. It is said that the temple lies atop the ruins of Nihongo|"Okamoto no Miya"|岡本宮 palace, wherein Prince Shōtoku had lectured on the Lotus Sutra, and that according to the prince's last will and testament, his son, Yamashiro no Ōe no ō rebuilt the former palace as a temple. Excavation conducted around the temple grounds has revealed the remains of a building whose pillars were in direct contact with the earth (i.e. there was no foundation stone), confirming that another building had occupied the grounds prior to Hokki-ji. The temple is laid out such that the main hall and the pagoda are aligned along the east-west axis, similar to the layout of Hōryū-ji Sai-in. However, Hokki-ji's main hall is in the west, and the tower is in the east; the opposite of Hōryū-ji Sai-in. This kind of temple layout has come to be known as "Hokki-ji Style".

Cultural Value

The only original building remaining is the 24m-high three-storied pagoda, which is the oldest of its kind in Japan, is a national treasure. The lecture hall is a 1694 reconstruction, and Shōten-do hall is an 1863 reconstruction.

The shrine contains a wooden 3.5m-tall 11-faced statue of Avalokitesvara that was constructed in the latter half of the 10th century. A copper image of a bodhissatva constructed in the latter half of the seventh century is currently entrusted to the Nara National Museum. Both of these items are considered to be "important cultural properties".

References

Much of the content of this article comes from the equivalent Japanese-language article, accessed on July 29, 2006.

External links

* [http://www.horyuji.or.jp/hokiji_e.htm Hokiji homepage]
* [http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/area03/index.html Nara Prefectural Tourist Guide for Ikaruga]