Kairyuoji Temple

This is a Shingon-Ritsu temple located in Hokkeji Kitamachi, Nara City. It is located next to the Hokkeji Temple, a nunnery of the Sokokubunji Nunnery. It was established in 731 (Tenpyo 3) as a temple of Empress Komyo, and the old hall of Fujiwara no Fuhito was converted into a Buddhist temple. In 735, the monk Genbo, who went to China in China, lived here after returning to Japan. It was founded by Genbo. It is commonly called Sumidera (corner temple) because it is located in the northeast corner of the Empress's palace. At the time, it was a large temple measuring 65 ken (about 117 meters) from north to south and 68 ken (about 122 meters) from east to west, but it gradually fell into disrepair and now only the mountain gate, lecture hall, western main hall, and sutra repository remain. The five-story small pagoda (national treasure) enshrined in the western main hall is in a similar style to the eastern pagoda of Yakushiji Temple, and is a valuable relic that gives us an insight into ancient architectural techniques. In addition to the West Golden Hall and the sutra repository, other important cultural properties designated by the nation include a gilded stupa with an inscription dating from 1290, the imperial plaque on the gate of Kairyuoji Temple, a standing statue of Eleven-Headed Kannon, a standing statue of Manjusri Bodhisattva (said to have been made by Unkei), and a colored silk painting of Bishamonten.

[Masahiro Nomura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

奈良市法華寺(ほっけじ)北町にある真言律宗の寺。総国分尼寺法華寺の隣地にある。731年（天平3）光明(こうみょう)皇后御願寺で、藤原不比等(ふひと)の旧殿を改めて仏閣とし、735年入唐(にっとう)僧の玄昉(げんぼう)は帰朝後ここに住した。開基は玄昉。皇后宮の北東隅に位置するので俗に隅寺(すみでら)と称した。当時は寺内南北65間（約117メートル）、東西68間（約122メートル）の大寺であったが、しだいにさびれて現在は山門、講堂、西金堂、経蔵を残すのみとなった。西金堂に安置されている五重小塔（国宝）は、薬師寺東塔と似た様式で、古代建築の手法を知るうえに貴重な遺構である。西金堂、経蔵のほか、正応(しょうおう)3年（1290）の銘ある鍍金(ときん)舎利塔、海竜王寺の寺門勅額、十一面観音立像、文殊菩薩(もんじゅぼさつ)立像（伝運慶作）、絹本着色毘沙門天(びしゃもんてん)画像などが国の重要文化財に指定されている。

［野村全宏］

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