Kanzeon-ji (観世音寺) is a seventh-century Buddhist temple in Dazaifu, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was once the most important temple in Kyushu. Its bell, one of the oldest in the country, has been designated a National Treasure,[1] and in 1996 the Ministry of the Environment designated its sound as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan.[2][3] Many statues of the Heian period are Important Cultural Properties.

Kanzeon-ji
観世音寺
Lecture Hall (Fukuoka ICP)
Religion
AffiliationBuddhist
DeitySho-Kannon Bosatsu (Āryāvalokiteśvara)
RiteTendai
Statusfunctional
Location
Location5-6-1 Kanzeonji, Dazaifu-shi, Fukuoka-ken
CountryJapan Japan
Kanzeon-ji is located in Fukuoka Prefecture
Kanzeon-ji
Shown within Fukuoka Prefecture
Kanzeon-ji is located in Japan
Kanzeon-ji
Kanzeon-ji (Japan)
Geographic coordinates33°30′54.1″N 130°31′16.7″E / 33.515028°N 130.521306°E / 33.515028; 130.521306
Architecture
FounderEmperor Tenji
Completedc.746
Website
Official website
Map
Kanzeon-ji's Asuka period bell, a National Treasure
Inventory of Kanzeon-ji from 905, now in Tokyo; a National Treasure
Avalokiteśvara

History

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The origins of Kanzeon-ji re uncertain, and its oldest known appearance in historical documentation is in the Kanzeon-ji Zaizaicho (National Treasure, owned by Tokyo University of the Arts), compiled in 905. According to the Shoku Nihongi, Kanzeon-ji was founded by Emperor Tenji in honour of his mother Empress Saimei. As she died in 661 it is assumed that construction began shortly thereafter; however, it was still incomplete fifty years later when in 709 additional workers were assigned. A further entry in the Shoku Nihongi indicates that it was completed on in 746. The oldest roof tiles excavated from the temple grounds date to the 7th century and have patterns of double-valved, eight-petaled lotus-shaped eaves and eccentric arabesque patterns also found in Fujiwara-kyō and Kawara-dera in Asuka, Nara. The bonshō bell at Kanzeon-ji was cast using the same wooden mold as the bell at Myōshin-ji in Kyoto, which has the date inscription of 698. All of the original structures of Kanzeon-ji have been lost and rebuilt repeatedly due to fires and other disasters. Excavation has revealed that the original layout of the temple was patterned after Kawara-dera, with a south gate, middle gate, Kondō (Main Hall) to the west, pagoda to the east and a lecture hall in the centre, with a cloister.[4] In 761, the monk Ganjin constructed a Kaidan-in, which permitted monks trained at this temple to be fully ordained without having to travel all the way to the capital. In 1064, a fire destroyed the lecture hall and pagoda. In 1102, the Kondō, South Gate, and other buildings collapsed due to a strong wind. The Kondō was later restored, but it was destroyed again in a fire in 1143. The temple went into decline in the Muromachi and Sengoku Periods, and by 1630, its only remaining main hall In 1630, the only remaining main hall collapsed during a rainstorm, and Kanzeon-ji was reduced to an abandoned temple.

In 1631, a new Kondō was built, and under the sponsorship by the Kuroda clan of Fukuoka Domain. The Kondō and lecture hall were rebuilt in the Genroku era (1688-1703). These structures are now designated Fukuoka Prefectural Tangible Cultural Properties.[5] From 1913 to 1914, repairs were made to the badly damaged Buddha statues. In 1959, the reinforced concrete treasure house was completed. This was one of the earliest temple cultural property repositories built.

The grounds and ruins of Kanzeon-ji (観世音寺境内及び子院跡) were declared an National Historic Site in 1970.[6]

Cultural Properties

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Kanzeon-ji houses a National Treasure and a number of statues and other items that are Important Cultural Properties:

A Heian period inventory of Kanzeon-ji (観世音寺資財帳) dating to 905 and now in Tokyo has been designated a National Treasure.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Tangible Cultural Properties - Bell". Dazaifu City. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  2. ^ "6G - Conservation of Good Sound Environment". Ministry of the Environment. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  3. ^ "Kanzeon-ji". Dazaifu Tenman-gū. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  4. ^ McCallum, Donald F. (2009). The Four Great Temples. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 192–6. ISBN 978-0-8248-3114-1.
  5. ^ "Registered Cultural Properties - Buildings". Dazaifu City. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  6. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Assets". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  7. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  8. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  9. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  10. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  11. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  12. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  13. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  14. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  15. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  16. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  17. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  18. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  19. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  20. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  21. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  22. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  23. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  24. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  25. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  26. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  27. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
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