Ryōsen-ji (Nara)
# Ryōsen-ji (Nara)

Ryōsen-ji (霊山寺) is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. Founded in the eighth century, the Hondō is a National Treasure and a number of other buildings and temple treasures have been designated Important Cultural Properties.

## History

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.

## Buildings

* Hondō (1283), 5x6 bay, irimoya-zukuri, tiled roof (National Treasure)
* Niōmon (1516), three bay, one door (Important Cultural Property)
* Three storey pagoda (1356), hinoki bark roof (ICP)
* Shōrō (mid-Muromachi period), single bay, irimoya-zukuri, hinoki bark roof (ICP)

## Treasures

* Wall painting inside the three-storey pagoda (late Kamakura period to Nambokuchō period) (ICP)
* Seated statue of Yakushi Nyorai (ICP)
* Statues of Nikkō Bosatsu and Gakkō Bosatsu (ICP)
* Zushi (1285) (ICP)
* Statues of Jūni Shinshō (Kamakura period) (ICP)
* Plaque of Buddha triad (Hakuhō period) (ICP)
* Seated statue of Amida Nyorai (twelfth century) (ICP)
* Seated statue of Dainichi Nyorai (late Heian period) (ICP)
* Statue of Jūichimen Kannon (early Heian period) (ICP)
* Statue of Bishamonten (twelfth century) (ICP)
* Statues of Jikokuten and Bishamonten (late Kamakura period) (ICP)
* Statue of Jizō Bosatsu (1256) (ICP)
* Pendant disc of Yakushi triad (1366) (ICP)
* Pendant disc (Kamakura period) (ICP)
* Seated statue of Gyōki
* Seated statue of Bodhisena

## Jūrokusho Jinja

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

