Murouji, Statues of Buddha in Nara 5

Amazing atmosphere and again Twelve Heavenly Generals

This temple is 35 km (22 miles) away from the center of Nara so you might hesitate to visit because it is a bit far but we would like to highly recommend to visit it. The temple is located in a valley surrounded mountains with thick woods which make amazing and a bit mysterious atmosphere and there are traditional architectures and also many fantastic statues of Buddha including national treasures.

The temple was established for Shingon school around 9th century, A.D. and is famous as temple for women called Nyonin Koya (女人高野). Since original Koya-san which I wrote to introduce Roppongi exhibition in former blog was a temple only for men, the Morouji was a temple for women instead. 

Bridge to go to the temple

The entrance gate

Walking around a few minutes after entering into a gate of the temple you will find two architectures which are called "Kondo" and "Mirokudo" and both are national treasures. In the "Kondo" there are many statures of the Buddha. The "Jyuichi men (eleven faces)  kannon ryuzo" is the most famous statue as a national treasure and also there are another national treasure statue and other good statues but what I love mostly are again Twelve Heavenly Generals (12神将) which are located in front of other lager statues. The Twelve Heavenly Generals (12神将) are one of the best out of many Twelve Heavenly Generals, I think. 

Also there is a national treasure statue which is called "Shaka nyorai zazou" and I love it as well. 

Kon-do

Miroku-do

After seeing the two architecture, you can find a main architecture, "Hon-do" and a symbolic architecture which is the five‐storied pagoda with 16.22m height. Both architectures are also national treasures. The pagoda is beautiful surrounded by woods. Then if you climb 390 stone-steps, you will arrive "Okunoin Mie-do " as a top of the temple.

Five-storied pagoda

Okunoin Mie-do

How to get there

From center of Nara city,

At Kintetsu nara station, get on Kintetsu nara line  and transfer to Kintetsu kashiwara line to south at Yamato seidaiji station.

Then transfer to Kintetsu Osaka line to west at Yamato yagi station.

Get-off at Murouguchi ohno station then take a bus bound for Murouji and get off at Murouji-mae bus stop where is in front of the temple.

Official site: <http://www.murouji.or.jp/> ( only in Japanese )

English wikipedia: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mur%C5%8D-ji>

Shin-Yakushiji, Statues of Buddha in Nara 4

Great!  The oldest Twelve Heavenly Generals

As I wrote before, I love "Ten" which is supporting actors and usually guarding main Buddha like "Nyorai","Bosatsu" out of statues of Buddha. Out of "Ten" one of famous series is Twelve Heavenly Generals (12神将) which consist twelve sculptures including meaning of "eto",  the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac.

The oldest extant of the Twelve Heavenly Generals exist at "Shin-yakushiji (新薬師寺)". The temple is small and very simple although it was very large and one of major temple old time. When you go into "Hondo", main architecture, you can see the twelve sculptures on large circular platform around "Yakushi nyorai", main Buddha in dark condition, which should be very impressive.

They were made of unbaked clay, 729–749 A.D. and originally colored.

The temple are located a bit inconvenient place from main sightseeing place of Nara like Todaiji, but you should visit it to feel atmosphere and wonder of Japanese culture. 

     

Shin-yakushiji explanation

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin-Yakushi-ji>

Twelve Heavenly Generals photos ( only in Japanese )

<http://www.k5.dion.ne.jp/~shinyaku/juunishin.html>

Hondo (main architecture)

Nara National Museum, Statues of Buddha in Nara 3

If you visit Kofukuji and Todaiji , you should also visit Nara national museum which  focuses arts of Buddha and  where you can see many good statues of Buddha and also other arts of Buddha.  It is located next to Todaiji and it is suitable and recommended to visit Kofukuji, Todaiji and the museum to enjoy statues of Buddha in short time around a half of a day.  You can see usual display of statues of Buddha at Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall & Ritual Bronzes Gallery and also they organize special exhibition some time and you might see it as well. If you are lucky, you can enjoy great sculptures in the exhibition. 

Until September '14 they hold Daigoji ten(Daigoji is one of famous temple in Kyoto) as special exhibition and I visited it. There we could see Miroku bosatsu zazou (弥勒菩薩) carved by Kaikei(快慶）, famous sculptor who acted same time as Unkei who I mentioned at last blog and other many statues of Buddha. Good thing to see statues at a museum is we can see them very closely and all around with good lighting, which is different from seeing at a temple where we can see only front and far usually with very dark condition usually. 

( Unfortunately it seems currently the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall is closed until Mar 2016 for renovation.  Special exhibition and Ritual Bronzes Gallery are available. Please check their web site.) 

Nara National Museum

<http://www.narahaku.go.jp/english/index_e.html>

Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall & Ritual Bronzes Gallery

<http://www.narahaku.go.jp/english/guide/02.html>

Daigoji ten page ( only Japanese )

<http://www.narahaku.go.jp/exhibition/2014toku/daigoji/daigoji_index.html>

What I love out of their collection

Tamonten ryuzo(Vaiśravaṇa), Important Cultural Property,  Heian period or Kamukura period 11 to 13 century

<http://www.narahaku.go.jp/english/collection/v-755-0.html>

Tobatsu bishamonten ryuzo(Vaiśravaṇa),  Important Cultural Property,  Heian period, 11th century

<http://www.narahaku.go.jp/english/collection/v-754-0.html>

Yakushinyorai-zo (Bhaiṣajya-guru), National Treasure, Heian period　9th century

<http://www.narahaku.go.jp/english/collection/v-645-0.html>

List of the sculptures collections :

<http://www.narahaku.go.jp/english/gallery/index.php?action=list&b=Sculptures>

Other information:

<http://www.narahaku.go.jp/pdf/english.pdf>

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara_National_Museum>

Bilｌboard of Daigoji-ten, Right picture is Miroku bosatsu zazou carved by Kaikei.

Three of five great myouoh (kings) from Daigoji-ten

Other two of five great myouoh (kings) from Daigoji-ten

Statues of Buddha in Nara 2, Todaiji

Todaiji　(東大寺)

Todai-ji is the most famous temple and place for tourists in Nara and there is the largest statue of Buddha in Japan called "Daibutsu(大仏, Great Buddha)" located at Daibutsuden　(大仏殿, Great Buddha hall) (also called Kondo(金堂)) building which is also very large wooden building. Of course the "Daibutsu" is great and I liked it but if you visit Todaiji also please visit other buildings where you can see more statues of Buddha and I think some of them are the best statues in Japan.

Daibutsuden (Great Buddha hall)

Daibutsu　 (Great Buddha)

Komokuten as guardian ( Deva king )
at Daibutsuden

Tamonten as another guardian ( Deva king )
at Daibutsuden

Recommended building

Kaidando (戒壇堂)

This is located west from Daibutsuden and I love Shitennouryuzo (四天王立像,the Four Devas, big four) here very much and  I think they are one of the best statues as Japanese statues of Buddha. Shitennou(四天王) are guardian gods for the center Buddha.  They are old sculptures made in 8th B.C. 

<http://nara.jr-central.co.jp/campaign/todaiji-kaidando/>  JR Tokai site only in Japanese but you can see photos.

Sangatsudo(三月堂)　 (also called Hokkedo  (法華堂))

 This is located east from Daibutsuden and there are ten statues currently. 
 I love Kongorikishi(金剛力士, Deva kings) and Shitennou(四天王,the Four Devas, big four) 
 Other statues including national treasures which were at this building in the past have been transferred to Todaiji museum.
 This building is also the oldest within Todaiji buildings.
<http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201305180016>

Nandaimon (南大門)

　Nandaimon is the large gate southern side where you should walk through when you visit "Daibutsuden". Please don't forget to check and see two large statues both side of the gate, which are Kongorikishizo (金剛力士像, Deva kings)and also are national treasures. They were carved by the most famous sculpture, Unkei(運慶) and his colleagues which are called Keiha (慶派) in 13 B.C. , Kamakura period.  

Nandaimon

One of Kogorikishizo

Todaiji museum（東大寺　博物館)

 Recently Todaiji built this museem where you can enjoy seeing many historical and wonderful arts including statues of Buddha.

Enjoy Todaiji Buddha!

Statues of Buddha as Japanese Great Artistic Sculptures

You might think it's religious and historical matters hearing statues of Buddha. It's true but it's also great art I am proud of as Japanese.  There are many kinds of statues of Buddha and main actors are statues located center in temples called Nyorai, Bosatsu. But I prefer more supporting actors like Ten, which look more realistic and dynamic.  I compare them even with  Michelangelo's or historical Greek or Roman sculpｔures.

Also some one brings me image of Fantasy story.

Although you can find many dynamic sculptures in Japan but Nara and Kyoto which are famous as historical, traditional and beautiful place with many temples and shrines are also the best place to see the statues of Buddha. Here I'd like to write down where, how and which you can see with my experiences and recommendation.

Statues of Buddha in Nara 1

I love Kyoto because the city has good atmosphere with beautiful historical architectures and attractive restaurants and bars which would relax me and I have no objection to opinion that Kyoto is the best city to visit in Japan. But if I would like to see the statues of Buddha, first I will go to Nara rather than Kyoto which is neighboring city of Kyoto and the capital of Japan from 710 A.D. to 784 A.D. before Kyoto because Nara has the most statues of Buddha in Japan and quality is also very good including dynamic one. I would like to tell my preferable temples and museum step by step like Kofukuji, Todaiji, Nara national museum, Shinyakushiji, Murouji, etc.

Kofukuji　(興福寺)

 Kofukuji is very old temple and told that its origin had established in 669 A.D. and there are good architectures including a five story pagoda.  But also they are keeping many statues of Buddha including many national treasures. 

Recently they built new building of national treasure museum where you can see many statues  of Buddha, painting and other art with good lighting. I recommend you to visit "Hokuendo(北円堂)" which is one of temple building of the Kofukuji because there are two of the best realistic sculpture made of wood which are called "Muchaku, Seshin ryuzo"  but unfortunately it opens only on limited term. (Usually open two times, spring and autumn of every year. For 2014 autumn, open from Oct.25th to Nov.9th)

Official site 

  <http://www.kohfukuji.com/> Top page

  <http://www.kohfukuji.com/english.html> in English

What I love are 

At the museum 

-Hachibushu (八部衆), national treasures

    <http://www.kohfukuji.com/property/cultural/015.html>

   They are eight gods guarding Budah and the origin came from Indian mythology.

   "Ashurazo" is the most popular within Japanese lovers of statues of Budah and  came from Asura of the Indian mythology.

   <http://www.kohfukuji.com/property/cultural/001.html>

 Also I love "Karurazo" which came from Garuda of the Indian mythology. 

   <http://www.kohfukuji.com/property/cultural/013.html>

 They made in Nara period , 8th century.

-Two wooden statues of Kongorikishi  (木造金剛力士立像), national treasures

   <http://www.kohfukuji.com/property/cultural/091.html>

 They are important sculptures because they were epoch making in Kamukura period, the 13th century. 

-Kitouki standing sculpture, Tentouki standing sculpture  (竜頭鬼立像, 天頭鬼立像), national treasures

  <http://www.kohfukuji.com/property/cultural/104.html>

They are funny and unique style sculptures.

-Bonten standing sculpture (木造梵天立像)

  <http://www.kohfukuji.com/property/cultural/109.html>

-Bonten and Taishakuten ryuzo (木造梵天・帝釈天立像)

  <http://www.kohfukuji.com/property/cultural/108.html>

-Jyudaideshi (Ten great disciples) standing sculptures  (乾漆十大弟子立像), national treasures

  <http://www.kohfukuji.com/property/cultural/014.html>

At Hokuendo

Hokuendo

-Muchaku, Seshin ryuzo made of wood (木造無著・世親立像), national treasures

  They are sculptures of old great Buddhist priests.

  <http://www.kohfukuji.com/property/cultural/111.html>

-Sitennou standing sculptures  (木心乾漆造四天王立像), national treasures

  <http://www.kohfukuji.com/property/cultural/087.html>

Pictures of statues of Buddha

  <http://www.kohfukuji.com/property/photo/index.html> (only in Japanese)

Map