飛鳥寺 Asuka-dera Asukadera Temple
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Asukadera located in Asuka-mura, Takaichi-gun, Nara Pref. is a historic temple belonging to Buzan School of Shingon Sect. To be accurate, its name “Asukadera” is the old name and its present formal name is “Angoin Temple.” Its Sango (the mountain name of a temple) is Torigata-yama. This is the oldest temple in Japan, which was established by Soga no Umako in 596 and had flourished until the Middle Ages. The temple was moved to Nara, following the capital relocation and changed its name to “Gankoji Temple.” However, the original temple remained in Asuka and was called “ex-Gankoji Temple.” Asukadera Temple was once destroyed by fire in 1196 but restored in the Edo period and has existed hitherto. The main object of worship is the bronze image of Shaka Nyorai (popularly called Asuka Daibutsu) cast by the master Buddhist sculptor, Kuratsukuri no Tori, in 606. It is the oldest extant image of Buddha in Japan. This is the place where Prince Nakano Oe and Nakatomi no Kamatari first encountered.
- address
- 682 Asuka, Asuka-mura, Takaichi-gun, Nara Prefecture, 634-0103
- name
- Asukadera Temple
- phone
- 0744-54-2126