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Kofuku-ji Temple -
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The Kofuku-ji Temple, situated next to the Todai-ji Temple, was
prosperous as a forerunner of "Buddhism for aristocrats" in the Nara period. Among
the seven biggest temples of Nara, the Kofuku-ji Temple has developed through
the closest relationship with the town of Nara. In the 3rd year of the Wado era
(710), the Umayasaka Temple, the predecessor of the present Kofuku-ji Temple,
was transferred from Asuka to the Nara capital by Fujiwara-no-Fuhito. Then, as
a tutelary temple of the Fujiwara family, it extended its influence with the prosperity
of the family. The temple was attacked by the Taira family in the fourth year
of Jisho (1180), and most of the temple buildings were burned down. In the Kamakura
period (1192-1333), however, the Fujiwara family took a position of the Military
Commissioner of Nara, and eventually became so influential that they occasionally
appealed to the Imperial Palace with soldier monks. In the vast precincts
of the temple are the Chukon-do Hall, the Tokon-do Hall, the Hokuen-do Hall, the
Nan'en-do Hall, the Five-storied Pagoda, the Three-storied Pagoda, the Ooyuya
Bathhouse, the Oomi-do Hall and the Treasure Hall, some of which were constructed
in and after the Kamakura period. As for Buddhist sculptures, there are a lot
of famus articles and masterpieces of the Tempyo era. (5 monutes' walk
from Kintetsu Nara Station)
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