Ryōsen-ji (Nara)

Pagoda

In the late seventh century Ono no Tobito erected a set of public baths on Mount Tomi outside Nara and enshrined an image of Yakushi. In 734 Emperor Shōmu instructed Gyōki to erect a hall on the site, and two years later the Indian monk Bodhisena, noticing a resemblance to the Vulture Peak, founded the Ryōsen-ji. The Hondō was rebuilt in 1283. Toyotomi Hideyoshi granted the temple lands valued at a hundred koku. In the Meiji period many of the monk's quarters were abandoned and over two hundred images were burned. Restored in 1940, the temple has been revived.[1]

• Hondō (1283), 5x6 bay, irimoya-zukuri, tiled roof (National Treasure)[2][3]
• Niōmon (1516), three bay, one door (Important Cultural Property)[4]
• Three storey pagoda (1356), hinoki bark roof (ICP)[5][6]
• Shōrō (mid-Muromachi period), single bay, irimoya-zukuri, hinoki bark roof (ICP)[7][8]

• Wall painting inside the three-storey pagoda (late Kamakura period to Nambokuchō period) (ICP)[9]
• Seated statue of Yakushi Nyorai (ICP)[10]
• Statues of Nikkō Bosatsu and Gakkō Bosatsu (ICP)[11]
• Zushi (1285) (ICP)[12]
• Statues of Jūni Shinshō (Kamakura period) (ICP)[13]
• Plaque of Buddha triad (Hakuhō period) (ICP)[14]
• Seated statue of Amida Nyorai (twelfth century) (ICP)[15]
• Seated statue of Dainichi Nyorai (late Heian period) (ICP)[16]
• Statue of Jūichimen Kannon (early Heian period) (ICP)[17]
• Statue of Bishamonten (twelfth century) (ICP)[18]
• Statues of Jikokuten and Bishamonten (late Kamakura period) (ICP)[19]
• Statue of Jizō Bosatsu (1256) (ICP)[20]
• Pendant disc of Yakushi triad (1366) (ICP)[21]
• Pendant disc (Kamakura period) (ICP)[22]
• Seated statue of Gyōki[23]
• Seated statue of Bodhisena[24]

Jūrokusho Jinja (十六所神社) is now an independent shrine, but before the Meiji period served Ryōsen-ji in a tutelary capacity.[25] The Honden (1384) and subordinate Sumiyoshi Jinja Honden and Ryūō Jinja Honden (both 1386) have been designated Important Cultural Properties.[26][27][28]

• List of National Treasures of Japan (temples)
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Yamato

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ryosen-ji (Nara).

• (in English) Ryōsenji - Founding & History
• (in Japanese) Ryōsenji homepage