Saiendo 西円堂

Official explanation

According to the temple records, Gyoki (668–749) a great supporter of the construction of the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple in Nara, built the original Saiendo here in 718. The octagonal building was commissioned by Lady Tachibana, the mother of Empress Komyo (701–760), consort of Emperor Shomu (701–756). It was reconstructed in 1250. Inside is a seated Nara period (710–794) statue of the healing Buddha, Yakushi Nyorai. This is one of the largest dry-lacquer Buddhist images in Japan. Octagonal halls were a feature of Buddhist architecture during the Nara period.

Every year in early February, a ceremony to drive out demons that dates back to 1261 is held here. Armed with a pikestaff, Bishamonten, the god of war, chases three demons away from the temple.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.