#Asukadera

[panicinthestudio]

Ancient Korean Architecture in Context, September 8, 2022

This webinar, inspired by the current exhibition Once Upon a Roof: Vanished Korean Architecture, examines recent research findings on ancient Korean architecture and ceramic roof tiles created more than one thousand years ago during the Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla kingdoms. Although no buildings from these periods survive, archaeological surveys reveal the advent of distinct regional styles on the peninsula that contributed to the complex cultural exchanges taking place in East Asia from the fifth through the ninth centuries. The four featured scholars from Korea and the United States will place Korea's earliest wooden architectural traditions in a broader East Asian context. Special emphasis is placed on roof tiles— the subject of the current exhibition—and two speakers will address the original design and fabrication of a special type of ornamented roof tile, called chimi in Korean, that crowned both ends of the main roof ridge of prominent buildings. Using examples excavated at important historical sites, specialists will address their discovery and reconstruction. Speakers include: Lee Byongho, Gongju National University of Education, Gongju Jeong Hyun, National Museum of Korea, Seoul Hwang Hyun Sung, National Museum of Korea, Seoul Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art

[crazyfox-archives]

Single-fold ticket stub for Asukadera Temple (飛鳥寺) in Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture: official name Angoin (安居院), one of Japan’s very earliest Buddhist temples founded in 588 as Hōkōji Temple (法興寺) by the the key political figure and early promoter of recently arrived Buddhism, Soga no Umako (蘇我馬子) (551?-626)

The front shows the temple’s main hall

The back shows a map of the temple layout

The unfolded center featured a brief description of the temple’s long & convoluted history and a list of its temple treasures along with a picture of the chief treasure, the Great Buddha of Asuka (飛鳥大仏), a statue of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni (釈迦如来) crafted by the Buddhist sculptor Tori Busshi (止利仏師) in 606

Also included is a little xeroxed English-language insert

(Acquired September 7, 1996)

[farmstayjapan]

At the main hall of Asuka Dera Temple you will be able to view the oldest surviving Buddha statue in Japan, the Asuka Daibutsu. This sitting figure is about 3 meters high it is said that it has not been moved from its spot for more than 1,400 years. #local_japagram #asukadera #asukamura #asukadaibutsu #Buddhism #nara #buddhiststatue https://www.instagram.com/p/CIezZEannbY/?igshid=1umsgvvus54me

[aki-122-blog]

飛鳥寺　五輪塔　明日香村

25 February 2017

[art-kyoto-jp]

No.499 at Asuka-dera Temple, Nara, Japan

[myjapan-me]

Asukadera

[jibuyo]

Japanese Buddhism notes

ASUKA = Aristocratic Buddhism

A king from Baekje asked Japan for help and sent over a statue of Shakyamuni and other artefacts. Among the ministers of emperor Kinmei there was a dispute about who to worship. Clans of Japanese origins like Mononobe and Nakatomi were afraid that kami will get mad and refused buddhism. On the other hand, clans that originated in Korea, lead by Soga clan, they were in favour of buddhism. In the end the emperor gave in and let Soga to worship the new gods. A new “house” was built for the statue of Shakyamuni next to the Emperor’s palace in Asuka. Asukadera, the family temple of Soga clan, was the first place where buddhist gods were worshipped.

NARA = State Buddhism

752 Emperor Shōmu built Tōdaiji (in Nara) - head temple for all Buddhist sects in Nara period, a symbol connecting religion and state. Inside the temple there’s a huge bronze statue of Mahāvairocana Buddha, sometimes also called “Great Sun” which fit with Japanese setting, because of Amaterasu Ōmikami, and because of that Mahāvairocana was connected to the Emperor.

Six Nara sects:

Ritsu Jōjitsu Kusha Sanronshū Hossō Kegon

HEIAN

The capital moved from Heijōkyō to Heiankyō (Kyoto) to move away from the influence of Nara’s monks (and other reasons). Initially, only two temples were built - Tōji (Eastern temple) and Saiji (Western temple).

Heian sects:

Tendai - founder Saichō - Mt. Hiei - Enryakuji. Saichō is said to be the first person who brought tea to Japan. Based around Lotus Sutra. Everyone is on its way to nirvana. It became a dominant sect under the patronage of the Imperial House. Many future famous monks were originally Tendai monks. In Kamakura and later the head temple Enryakuji also became politically and military powerful and a home to sōhei (= warrior monks). Since the 10th century the monks from Enryakuji were involved in many military skirmishes against different sects, and the monks from Enryakuji entered Kyoto many times to burn other sects’ temples. After Nobunaga burned Enryakuji down, the sōhei were never reinstituted at Enryakuji after it was rebuilt. [Tenkai, Ieyasu’s friend or advisor or whatever was a Tendai monk.]

Shingon - founder Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi) - Mt. Kōya. Another major buddhist sect. Based around tantras.

1052 - mappō - the end of Buddha’s law. In Japan this period was full of military conflicts, especially in Kyoto, Hasedera was burned down, people were starving, samurai came to power, warrior monks were on rise etc. It seemed like the end of world for the previously peaceful Heian period.

A new Buddha appears = Amida Buddha and a new sect = Pure Land. You didn’t have to read any sutra, you only needed to repeat nenbutsu to be saved and reborn in a Amida’s Pure Land = namu amida butsu.

Two sects: 

Jōdōshū (The Pure Land School) - founder Hōnen (originally a Tendai monk).

Jōdō Shinshū (True Pure Land Buddhism) - founder Shinran (originally a Tendai monk).

Both of these were influenced by mappō, they were easy to understand - you only needed to learn one sentence, so they spread among common people.

KAMAKURA = zen buddhism

Rinzai - founder Eisai -  Tendai monk, who went to China and discovered that mediation while sitting (= Japanese “zazen”) is in at that time. He went back to Japan, got a patronage of Hōjō clan in Kamakura and then built a first zen temple in Kyoto - Kenninji. He managed to connect zen buddhism and warrior class.

Sōtō - founder Dōgen - originally a Tendai monk, studied at Kenninji. He built Eiheiji in Echizen.

Nichiren - founder Nichiren, studying at Enryakuji. He decided that you can’t find salvation in any other teaching or Amida, only by worshipping and studying the Lotus Sutra. You need to chant “namu myōhō rengekyō” and you’ll be able to find salvation in this world, in this life. 

[lenievi]

Asukadera was a nice temple... they allowed you to take photos. 

Shōtoku Taishi as a boddhisatva.

[livekyoto]

Wow, three whole days in Nara??

It’s sadly a little too early for wisteria, but Kasuga Shrine is lovely anyway. There are a lot of neat little shops and side streets to wind through, especially south of Todaiji and the deer park. I actually recommend buying a pack of the deer crackers and feeding them just for the experience, but please be mindful of any loose things you have on you - I’ve seen the deer eat plastic bags. They’re also surprisingly soft?

It’s a bit far away from what most people think of as “Nara” and might be hard to get to (we drove there - it’s about 20km south of Nara proper), but if you can find your way to Asuka village, there’s a lot of historic things to check out, like Imaicho village, Asukadera (one of, if not the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan), and a few tombs, which are neat. (You can get there by via Kintetsu, it seems, though you’ll have to make a few transfers)

Near the JR station, there’s a lot more in terms of food and shopping, so if you’re looking to experience ~*Nara*~, probably better to stay away from there.

Have fun!!!

(Edited: Daitokuji is not in Nara, but Todaiji is. #fail)

Nara!

I am here for three nights :) Is there anything I just can’t miss?

Singling out @livekyoto @todayintokyo @theconsultingtranslator and @stefaniewhat for their extensive knowledge, but very open to any tips please!

[jpf-sydney]

The Four Great Temples

Book review:

A dedicated, cross disciplinary study of the preeminent temples of early Buddhist Japan.

This work provides a detailed accounting of four key Buddhist temples from seventh century Japan when Buddhism was still in the early stages of its adoption. Asukadera – the first full scale temple in Japan and premier of the Asuka Period. Kudara Ōdera - a royal temple referenced in historical texts but whose location has only been firmly postulated and excavated in recent decades. Kawaradera - whose ground plan and beautiful tiles influenced subsequent temples. Yakushiji - the most well-known of the four and one of three to relocate, but the only one to retain its original layout after relocation.

Each temple is devoted its own chapter making for a total of four. Numerous section headings are consistent across chapters but deliberate deviations to textual organisation (and narrative thread) are taken in order to discuss different issues. Other chapter elements include numerous maps (floor layouts, room plans), photography (aerial, artefacts, digs) and the like.

The cross disciplinary dimension referred to in the tagline relates to the array of academic fields that author Donald McCallum brings to bear. Even though the four temples are the centrepieces, McCallum also contextualises pertinent political and religious developments. Another feature of his book is the utilisation of archaeological data together with documentary data. Additionally, regional comparisons are made with great royal temples in China, Korea and other parts of Japan. 

Shelf: 185 MCC The four great temples : Buddhist archaeology, architecture, and icons of  seventh-century Japan by Donald F. McCallum. published by University of Hawai'i Press, c2009, Honolulu ISBN:  978-0-8248-3114-1 xvii, 328 p. :ill., maps ;25 cm. Book Text  in English.

This review was originally published via the Japan Foundation, Sydney, newsletter and hosted on a former platform/website. This post has been backdated to its original date.

[crazyfox-archives]

A tree claimed by the adjacent sign to be a transplanted sapling from the original Bodhi Tree on the grounds of Asukadera Temple (飛鳥寺) in Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture

(Photo taken September 7, 1996)

[wanokokoro-japan]

Asuka Temple, Nara, Japan.

[shotarooo]

飛鳥寺の大仏様。 #飛鳥寺 #Asukadera #Japan #icu_japan #ig_cameras_united #ig_nihon #earthexperience #team_jp_ #cooljapan (飛鳥寺)

[myjapan-me]

Asukadera

[hachimitsu]

hakubai white plum tree (by ron's-photo)

[ileftmyheartintokyo]

asuka-dera plum tree by ron's-photo on Flickr.