Hôrinji monastery, (in) Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, JP

Raw data

Hôrinji, also known as Miidera, was most likely built in the 7th century, but its origins are in dispute. A 12th century text says that Prince Yamashiro Ôe, the eldest son of Prince Regent Shôtoku, built it in 622 to pray for his father's health. Another legend, dating to a 10th century text, names three men, one a monk from Kudara (Baekje in Korea), who built it after Hôryûji burned down in 670. Neither legend is mentioned in the Nihon shoki (Chronicles of Japan, compiled 720) or the temple documents of Hôryûji.
- http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/法輪寺_(斑鳩町)

"Although it used to be a huge temple in a Horyuji Garan style, all its buildings were destroyed in fire and what we see today are those that were reconstructed after the Edo era. In 1975, the current Sanjunoto (three-story pagoda) was rebuilt in an Asuka style using old-fashioned techniques. It is a recreation of the former Sanjunoto constructed at the end of the 7th Century but was destroyed by lightening in 1944."
- http://www.japan-i.jp/explorejapan/kinki/nara/naraarea/d8jk7l0000000cxx.html

Src: Japan

Input by: Lizbeth H. Piel, Aug 28, 2009

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 24 Apr 2013

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 Hôrin-ji monastery, JP.

General location of the Hôrin-ji monastery, JP.
lat=34.6228258 long=135.7383907
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2009.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=34.6228258+135.7383907+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Horinji%20monastery,%20JP)&ll=34.6228258,135.7383907&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Hôrinji 法輪寺 monastery. Alternative English spelling: Horinji, Hôrin-ji

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • Japan:Nara Prefecture

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names


4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates


5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries


6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village

  • Ikaruga-chô (Ikaruga town)

7. The settlement's alternative/historical names

  • Note: the town of Ikaruga was created in 1947, when a smaller township, Tatta-chô, and a hamlet, Tomi-sato, were merged. - Nihon chimei jiten (1998: 78).

8. The settlement's coordinates


9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Mahayana

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • Shôtoku sect; Myôgen sect.

11. Date-early

  • MBM chrono-tag 0600-32c - tmciolek 24 Apr 2013
  • 0600-32c 0633-66c 0667-99c 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32c 1033-66c 1067-99c 1100-32c 1133-66c 1167-99c 1200=> dated-el

12. Date-intermediate


13. Date-late


14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • In the Heian period (794-1184), Hôrin-ji became a subsidiary to Kôfuku-ji in Nara - Tamamuro (1992:783)

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Architecture, temple documents

16. Additional notes

  • [missing data]

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

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