Saidai-ji

Saidai-ji (西大寺) or the "Great Western Temple" is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples in the city of Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple was established in AD 765 as a counterpart to Tōdai-ji and it is the main temple of the Shingon Risshu (真言律宗) sect of Buddhism after the sect's founder, Eison (叡尊), took over administration in 1238.[1]

Saidai-ji 西大寺
Main Hall
Religion
Affiliation	Shingon Ritsu
Deity	Shaka Nyorai (Śākyamuni) (Important Cultural Property)
Status	Head Temple
Location
Location	1-1-5 Saidaiji Shibachō, Nara, Nara Prefecture
Country	Japan
Geographic coordinates	34°41′37″N 135°46′46.2″E
Architecture
Founder	Jōtō and Empress Kōken
Completed	765
Website
saidaiji.or.jp

One building, the Aizen-dō, houses a statue of Aizen Myō-ō, while the main image is of Shakyamuni Buddha, erected by Eison in 1249.[1]

Saidai-ji stands close to Yamato-Saidaiji Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line.

Building list

• Main Hall (Hondō – 本堂) – Important Cultural Property. It was rebuilt in 1808.
• Shiō-dō (四王堂) – It was rebuilt in 1674.
• Aizen-dō (愛染堂) – It was reconstructed in 1762.

• 
  Shiō-dō
• 
  Aizen-dō
• 
  Manjushri Bodhisattva (Monju Bosatsu)

See also

• For an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture, see the Glossary of Japanese Buddhism.
• List of National Treasures of Japan (crafts-others)
• List of National Treasures of Japan (paintings)
• List of National Treasures of Japan (sculptures)
• List of National Treasures of Japan (writings)
• Nanto Shichi Daiji, Seven Great Temples of Nanto.
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Yamato

References

1. Watt, Paul B. (March 8, 1999). "Chapter 7: Eison and the Shingon Vinaya Sect". In Tanabe, George (ed.). Religions of Japan in Practice. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-05789-3.

External links

• "Saidai-ji Temple Homepage" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-02-05.