Ichijō-ji

The Ichijō -ji (Jap.一 乘 寺) is a Buddhist temple in the village of Kasai, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The temple is associated with the faith Tendai shū.

Main image of the temple is a statue of Kannon ( Sho- Kannon ). The Ichijō -ji Temple is the 26th of Saigoku - pilgrimage (西 国 三十 三 箇 所, Saigoku sanjūsankasho ).

Overview

The establishment of the Ichijō -ji can not prove itself in documents. According to tradition, the temple is said to have been founded in 650 by the priest Hodo at the behest of Emperor Kōtoku. It is believed that the original temple was not located in the current location, but 2.5 km further north at the foot of Mount Kasamatsu.

Oldest building on the temple grounds is a 1171 built in Wayo style three-storey pagoda, which is classified as a national treasure of Japan. The main hall is burned down several times; extensive renovations were initiated in 1562 by Akamatsu Yoshitsuke and 1628 Honda Tadamasa. After severe damage caused by a typhoon in 1999, the main hall is open to the public again since 2007. Furthermore, prayer halls are to worship Emperor Kazan, the Prince Regent Shōtoku and the deity Benzaiten on the temple grounds.

Among the cultural treasures of Ichijō -ji include image rolls with Shōtoku and the ten patriarchs of the Tendai shū from the 12th century. The great age of the temple is also evidenced by the main image, which is classified in the late Asuka period.