This ancient temple stands on top of Mt. Tsubosaka, with Mt. Yoshino, famous for its cherry blossoms, to the south and the Nara Basin, home of Manyo, to the north. It is named in the Heian-period books "Makura no Soshi" and "Konjaku Monogatari-shu" ("Tales of Ancient Japan"), etc. According to the "Legends of Minami-hokke-Ji Koro Den" the temple's collection, the temple was founded by Benki Shonin, a priest of Gangouji Temple who had been practicing asceticism on this mountain, and in 703, he put his favorite pot in a hermitage on the hill. He carved a statue of Kannon to enshrine it.
The principal image is the statue of the Juichimen Senju Kannon Zou (eleven-faced thousand-armed Kannon）, widely believed to be the Buddha with miraculous powers for eye diseases. Based on a legend describing the miraculous power of the Kannon, "Tsubosaka Reigenki," a joruri and kabuki play depicting the humanistic story of a blind husband and his devoted wife, was created.
The temple area on top of the mountain used to be a large Garan (temple complex) with more than 36 halls and over 60 Shukubo (temple lodging ), but repeated fires destroyed it. The three-story pagoda and the temple's main hall are designated National Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
The temple grounds are also dotted with stone statues created and brought from TENJIKU (Present India) as a return gift for the temple's service projects in India. It is worth taking a stroll through the exotic atmosphere of the temple.
Highlights
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The main statue of the Juichimen Senju Kannon Zou Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, which is believed to ward off eye diseases.
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The temple grounds are also dotted with stone statues created and brought from TENJIKU, which have an exotic atmosphere.
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During the cherry blossom season, the stone statues, halls, and cherry blossoms create a beautiful scene.
