Hokkeji is a Komyo sect temple with its temple complex in Hokkeji-cho, Nara City, about 2.4km northwest of Nara Station.
It is a nunnery that is one of the three great temples of Yamato.
In contrast to Todaiji Temple, which was founded by Emperor Shomu (701-756) as the so-kokubunji (main temple of the provinces), Hokkeji was founded by Empress Komyo (701-760) and built as the so-kokubunji (main temple of the provinces) on the site of the residence of her father, Fujiwara no Fuhito (659-720).
Officially known as the "Temple of the Lotus Sutra Atonement" (Hokkemetsuzai no Tera), it flourished with its seven halls, but fell into decline when the capital was moved to Heian in 794.
In the Kamakura period, the monk Chogen, who also rebuilt the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple, restored the buildings and Buddhist statues of Hokkeji Temple in 1203 (Kennin 3). The Kamakura-style wooden Buddha head that remains at the temple today is believed to be the head of the principal image of this reconstruction, the Rushana Buddha. Half a century later, the Shingon Ritsu monk Eison, who lived in the mid-Kamakura period, undertook a full-scale restoration.
In 1499 (Meiō 8), Akazawa Asakura, a vassal of Hosokawa Masamoto, invaded Yamato Province and burned the temple down, and in 1506 (Eishō 3), Akazawa Asakura again burned it down during another attack. Furthermore, in 1596 (Bunroku 5), the temple was hit by the Keicho Fushimi earthquake, and ultimately all buildings except the East Pagoda were lost.
The current main hall and south gate were rebuilt in 1601 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's eldest son, Toyotomi Hideyori (1593-1615), and his mother, Yodo-dono, while the bell tower was rebuilt the following year, 1602, by Toyotomi Hideyori and Yodo-dono, with Katagiri Katsumoto as magistrate.
During the Edo period, the temple became a convent temple when Takayoshini, the adopted daughter of Emperor Gomizunoo (1596-1629), entered the temple.
The main hall (a National Important Cultural Property) was rebuilt in 1601 by Toyotomi Hideyori and Yodo-dono, with Katagiri Katsumoto as magistrate.
It has a hipped roof and is covered with real tiles, with seven bays at the front and four bays at the side. The principal image, the Eleven-Headed Kannon statue (a National Treasure), is enshrined in a shrine inside the hall.
The Eleven-Headed Kannon Statue (National Treasure) is the principal image of Hokkeji Temple, standing 1m tall and enshrined in a shrine in the main hall.
Tradition has it that it was created by a Buddhist sculptor and questioner from Tenjiku (India) in imitation of the appearance of Empress Komyo, but it is believed to have actually been made in the early Heian period, in the first half of the 9th century.
The statue is made from a single piece of kaya wood. It is in good condition and is one of the most representative works of Heian period sculpture. It is a plain wooden statue that has not been painted or gold leafed since its creation, and the hair, eyebrows, and beard are painted ultramarine, the lips are painted vermilion, the whites of the eyes are painted white, and the pupils, hair hanging down the shoulders, crown, and bracelets are all made of copper plate. Other than using lacquerware, a bare finish is used to bring out the beauty of the wood grain.
The Bell Tower (National Important Cultural Property) was rebuilt in 1602 (Keicho 7) by Toyotomi Hideyori and Yodo-dono, with Katagiri Katsumoto as magistrate.
It is a two-story building with a "hakama-koshi bell tower" where the bell hangs from the upper level, but it is an unusual design in that it does not have a veranda or parapet on the upper level.
The South Gate (National Important Cultural Property) was rebuilt in 1601 (Keicho 6) by Toyotomi Hideyori and Yodo-dono, with Katagiri Katsumoto as magistrate.
It is a four-legged gate with a gabled roof and real tiled roof.
The Bathroom "Karaburo" (National Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property) is a steam bath where legend has it that Empress Komyo personally washed the dirt off 1,000 people.
Since then, it has been used by commoners rather than nuns, following ancient tradition. The current building was rebuilt in 1766 during the Edo period.
"Kogetsutei" (Nara Prefecture Designated Tangible Cultural Property) is the former Azumaya family residence that was located in Tsukigase, Tsukigase Village, Soegami District, Nara Prefecture (now Nara City), and was relocated in 1971.
"Scenic Gardens" (National Historic Site) are a collection of gardens that were built in the early Edo period. The garden was created in 1897, covers an area of approximately 1,650 square meters, and it is said that stones and trees were moved from the gardens of Kyoto's Sento Imperial Palace.
The garden is also known for its adorable dog-shaped amulets, made from goma ash mixed with clay and painted with patterns.
The Komyo sect of Buddhism was established in 1999 when Hokkeji Temple in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, separated from the Shingon Ritsu sect (head temple: Saidaiji Temple). It was named after Empress Komyo, the sect's founder, and is an independent sect based on the Shingon Ritsu sect.
