Hon-yakushiji Temple

The predecessor of Yakushiji Temple in Heijo-kyo. During the Asuka period, it was located southwest of the site of the Daigokuden (the Daigokuden) of the Fujiwara Palace (Kidono-cho, Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture). It is one of the four great temples of Asuka. Yakushiji Temple was started to be built in 680 (the 9th year of Emperor Tenmu's reign) by Emperor Tenmu in prayer for the recovery of his empress (later Empress Jito) from illness. After the death of Emperor Tenmu, construction continued until the reign of Emperor Jito and Emperor Monmu, and it was completed in 698 (the 2nd year of Emperor Monmu). When the capital was moved to Heijo-kyo in 718 (the 2nd year of Yoro), it was moved to Rokujo Nibo, Ukyo, Heijo-kyo (Nishinokyo-cho, Nara City), so the temple in Asuka is called Hon-Yakushiji Temple. According to the main hall and the earthen platforms and cornerstones of the east and west pagodas at the temple ruins (a special historic site), the layout of the temple buildings is the same as that of the current Yakushi-ji Temple in Nishinokyo. The temple grounds occupied an area of ​​two blocks around Hachijo Sanbo in the Ukyo area of ​​Fujiwara-kyo, and its importance can be seen from its location facing Daikan-ji Temple in the Sakyo area on both sides.

[Michio Sato]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平城京の薬師寺の前身。飛鳥(あすか)時代、藤原宮大極殿(だいごくでん)跡の南西（奈良県橿原(かしはら)市城殿(きどの)町）にあった。飛鳥四大寺の一つ。薬師寺は680年（天武天皇9）天武(てんむ)天皇が皇后（後の持統(じとう)天皇）の病気平癒を祈願して建立を始め、天武天皇没後、持統・文武(もんむ)天皇の代まで工事が継続され、698年（文武天皇2）竣工(しゅんこう)された。平城遷都とともに718年（養老2）平城京の右京六条二坊（奈良市西ノ京町）に移されたため、飛鳥の寺を本薬師寺と称する。寺跡（特別史跡）の金堂と東・西両塔の土壇、礎石などによれば、西ノ京の現薬師寺と同型の伽藍(がらん)配置で、寺域は藤原京の右京八条三坊の二町四方を占め、左京の大官大寺と左右対峙(たいじ)する位置にあったことからもその重要性がうかがわれる。

［里道徳雄］

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