Koryu-ji is one of the oldest temples in Kyoto. Some say it is in fact the oldest, but such claim is hard to verify given the number of temples and the tumultuous history of the city. It as founded in 603, but as usual the buildings are more recent, having been destroyed by fire multiple times.
The temple does not offer great gardens or amazing pagodas so it is quieter and off the beaten tourists paths. One important cultural property (in fact, a National Treasure) is a very graceful statue of the bodhisattva 'Maitreya' made from a single piece of red pine. The statue is mentioned in the Nihon-shoki (oldest history accounts of Japan) as imported from Korea around the time the temple was erected. Access: Nearby: Hōkongō-in 法金剛院 (950m) External links: ウィキペディア, Wikipedia, Wikipédia, Kyoto Navi, Trip Advisor, Kyoto Design, 京都風光, Marutake, Satellite view, Map Keywords: Japan, 日本, Japon, Kyoto, 京都, Ukyo-ku, 広隆寺, Koriyu-ji, temple, 寺院, 仏閣 Statistics: visited on 2 occasions, id 189, 3 photos. |
