Raw data
Anô haiji (“abandoned temple of Anô”) is associated with Emperor Tenji (r. 661-672) and his effort to establish a network of state temples. Along with Minami Shiga haiji, it was one of four temples in auspicious locations around Emperor Tenji’s Ôtsu Palace.
Anô haiji was located along the coast of Lake Biwa to the northeast of Minami Shiga haiji and Ôtsu Palace. In 1984-5, the remains were found in Anô, just north of Karasaki, on the eastern edge of Highway 161. Archaeological excavations reveal that an earlier site was oriented farther to the east than the later site. The earlier site consists of the foundations of a pagoda in the east, a golden hall in the west, and part of an encircling corridor. Scholars have compared the ground plan to that of Hokkiji and Kawaradera. The remains have been dated to the early 7th century, indicating that the temple existed before Tenji moved his capital to Ôtsu in 667.
The later site appears to have been built shortly after Tenji moved the capital. It conforms more closely than the earlier site to a north-south axis running through Ôtsu Palace to the “predecessor to Onjôji” (or Miidera). The later site consists of the foundations of a lecture hall to the north, a golden hall to the southwest, and a pagoda to the southeast. Silver buddhas were found in the presumed lecture hall. Roof tiles, similar to those at Kawaradera, have also been found at the site.
-McCallum (2009: 68-70)
-“Otsu-kyô.” http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp/josetsu/theme_6.html#TOP
-“Anô haiji ato.” http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp/jiten/data/063.html
-“Ôtsu no bunka zai: Anô haiji.” http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp/bunka/data/bz_422.html
Src: JPN
Input by: Lizbeth H. Piel, Mar 16, 2010
Final data (and their sources)
Last updated: 19 Dec 2012
Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.
General location of the Ano haji monastery, JP.
Lat 35.0525 Long 135.8678
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2009.
Google Map link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=35.0525+135.8678+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Ano%20haiji,%20JP)&ll= 35.0525,135.8678&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en
Final data - explanatory notes
1. Monastery's name
- Anô haiji 穴太廃寺 monastery
2. Monastery's modern country & province
- Japan: Shiga Prefecture
3. Monastery's alternative/historical names
- [missing data]
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Approx., Lat 35.0525 Long 135.8678 - estimated from map and satellite photographs in maps.google.com - tmciolek, 17 Mar, 2010.
5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries
- Sûfukuji monastery
- Minami Shiga haiji monastery
- Onjoji (Miidera) monastery
6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village
- Ôtsu-shi (Ôtsu City), Anô. Alternative readings: Anaho, Anao, Anau. –Nihon chimei jiten (1998: 50)
7. The settlement's alternative/historical names
- Ômi Province, Ôtsu-kyô, Shigataka-Anaho. –Nihon chimei jiten (1998: 50)
- Ômi Province, Ôtsu-kyô, Shiga-no-miyako. –Nihon chimei jiten (1998: 214)
- Ōtsu - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/JA/35/Otsu.html
- Ōtu - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/JA/35/Otsu.html
- Otu - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/JA/35/Otsu.html
8. The settlement's coordinates
- Approx., Lat 35.0000 Long 135.8667 - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/JA/35/Otsu.html
9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition
- Mahayana
10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition
- [missing data]
11. Date-early
- Early 7th century. -McCallum (2009: 69)
- MBM chrono-tag 0567-99p 0600-32p 0633-66p - tmciolek 19 Dec 2012
- 0567-99p 0600-32p 0633-66p 0667-99c 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32c 1033-66c 1067-99p dated-el
12. Date-intermediate
- Second half of the 7th century. -http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp/josetsu/theme_6.html#TOP
13. Date-late
- This monastery was active until the end of the 11th century. - http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp/bunka/data/bz_422.html
- MBM chrono-tag 1033-66c 1067-99p - tmciolek 19 Dec 2012
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
- It was part of the Ôtsukyô temple system established by Emperor Tenji. Through Tenji there is a relationship with Kawaradera in Asuka (Nara Prefecture).
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
- Archaeological
16. Additional notes
- [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)….
17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by
- [missing data]
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