Anô haiji monastery, (in) Ôtsu, Shiga Prefecture, JP

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)

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.

Location of Ano haji monastery, JP.

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

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

8. The settlement's coordinates

9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Mahayana

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • Early 7th century. -McCallum (2009: 69)

12. Date-intermediate

13. Date-late

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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