Taima-dera Temple – A Historic Temple in Nara
📍 Taima-dera Temple
🗺 Taima, Katsuragi City, Nara, Japan
Taima-dera Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Katsuragi City, Nara Prefecture. It is unique as it houses two Buddhist sects: Shingon Buddhism and Jodo Buddhism. The temple’s mountain name (sangō) is Nijozan, and its principal object of worship is the Taima Mandala, a depiction of the Pure Land of the West. While its founding is traditionally attributed to Prince Maroko (Taima no Miko), a half-brother of Prince Shotoku, the exact details remain uncertain.
📚 Cultural and Historical Significance
Taima-dera is best known for the Taima Mandala and the legend of Chujo-hime, a noblewoman believed to have attained enlightenment through devotion. Every year on April 14th, the Neri Kuyo Eshiki (Procession of Buddhist Priests Ceremony) is held, attracting numerous visitors.
The temple grounds are home to many well-preserved structures and cultural treasures from the Nara period. The East and West Pagodas (Sanju-no-to) are particularly significant, as they are the only surviving three-story pagodas from the Nara period and have been designated National Treasures of Japan. Additionally, the temple features beautiful seasonal gardens, making it a picturesque site year-round.
For visitor information, events, and applications for sutra copying (shakyo) and Buddhist image tracing (shabutsu), check out the official Taima-dera Temple website.
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