Hōkō-ji Temple

Overview

Hoko-ji is a Tendai temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, also known as the Great Buddha or the Great Buddha Hall. Its principal image is Rushana Buddha, and it is said to have been founded when Toyotomi Hideyoshi resolved to build a Great Buddha temple in the capital to surpass that of Nara. It is known for a temple bell bearing the inscription Kokka Anko.

Highlights

• ●A temple known by the nicknames Great Buddha and Great Buddha Hall
• ●Its principal image, the Rushana Buddha
• ●A temple bell bearing the inscription Kokka Anko
• ●Grounds designated a Historic Site of Japan

History

Hoko-ji dates from the 16th century and is said to have been built when Toyotomi Hideyoshi determined that the capital should have a Great Buddha temple to surpass that of Nara. Where the Nara project had taken ten years, Hideyoshi is said to have completed the initial phase in only three; the architects were Nakamura Masakiyo and Heinouchi Yoshimasa. The temple bell later bearing the inscription Kokka Anko became the trigger of the temple bell incident. The grounds are designated a Historic Site of Japan.

Map

34.9921, 135.7721 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Visit the temple known as the Great Buddha and the Great Buddha Hall
2. 2View the interior, including the principal image, the Rushana Buddha
3. 3See up close the temple bell bearing the inscription Kokka Anko
4. 4Walk the grounds designated a Historic Site of Japan

Did you know?

💡 The founding of Hoko-ji dates back to 1586.

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