Takkoku-no-Iwaya

Takkoku-no-Iwaya
達谷窟
Takkoku no Iwaya
Shown within Iwate Prefecture
Takkoku-no-Iwaya (Japan)
Basic information
Geographic coordinates 38°58′08″N 141°03′29″E / 38.96901282°N 141.0581363°E / 38.96901282; 141.0581363 (Takkoku-no-Iwaya)
Affiliation Buddhist
Rite Tendai
Country Japan
Status functional
Architectural description
Founder Sakanoue no Tamuramaro
Completed 801 AD

Takkoku-no-Iwaya (達谷窟) is a Buddhist temple in Hiraizumi in southern Iwate Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan dedicated to Bishamonten. The temple was founded by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro in 801 AD to commemorate his victory over the local Emishi tribes.[1]

Takkoku no Iwaya is located approximately six kilometers southwest of Hiraizumi, between the centre of town and Genbikei Gorge. The temple is built below an overhanging cliff, and incorporates a shallow cave containing a statue of Bishamon-ten. In the Heian period, a large statue of Fudō Myōō (designated an Iwate Prefectural Cultural Property) and a bas-relief image of Buddha carved into the rock face were added. The temple was described in the Kamakura period chronicle, Azuma Kagami’'.

The temple has burned down many times and its original form is unknown today; the current building dates from 1961 and was modeled after the famous Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto.

The grounds have been designated a National Historic Site.

Takkoku-no-Iwaya was included in the original 2006 nomination of "Hiraizumi - Cultural Landscape Associated with Pure Land Buddhist Cosmology”,[2] but was removed from the nomination after the failure to secure inscription in 2008; although there are continuing efforts to secure its inclusion through future extension.[3][4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "達谷窟" [Takkoku-no-Iwaya]. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  2. ↑ 世界遺産の概要 [World Heritage Site: summary] (in Japanese). Iwate Prefecture. Archived from the original on 17 May 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "Report on the 35th World Heritage Committee Session Decision Results for: "Hiraizumi- Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land"". Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  4. ↑ Corkill, Edan (18 June 2011). "Temple hopes for UNESCO nod and big cheer for Iwate". The Japan Times. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  • For an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture, see the Glossary of Japanese Buddhism.

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