Banna-ji

Banna-ji
鑁阿寺

Banna-ji Temple
Basic information
Geographic coordinates 36.3375_N_139.4522_E
Affiliation Shingon
Country Japan
Architectural description
Completed 1197

Banna-ji (鑁阿寺 Banna-ji?), nicknamed Dainichisama,[1] is a Buddhist temple in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It was built by Ashikaga Yoshikane in 1197 during the Kamakura Period on the site of what had been an early fortified residence in Japan. It became a historic landmark in March 1921 and the main hall was designated a national treasure on May 17, 2012.[2]

History

The temple is located on a 40,000-square meter site, that had been a fortified residence of the Ashikaga Clan.[3]

Current site

Although Banna-ji is a temple, there are many defensive features on site that indicate its earlier use as a castle, including earthen ramparts and a water moat enclosing the main bailey of this site. There are four extant gates, which date to the 1500s.[4] This site was included in a list of Japan's Top 100 Castles in 2006 by the Japan Castle Foundation.[5]

External links

References

  1. "国宝 鑁阿寺". www.ashikaga-bannaji.org. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
  2. "「鑁阿寺本堂(ばんなじほんどう)」が国宝になりました - 足利市公式ホームページ". www.city.ashikaga.tochigi.jp. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
  3. "国宝 鑁阿寺". ashikaga-bannaji.org. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  4. Ashikagashi-Yakata J Castle http://www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/94-Ashikagashi-Yakata
  5. "日本100名城 | 公益財団法人日本城郭協会". 公益財団法人日本城郭協会 (in Japanese). 2015-12-12. Retrieved 2016-08-18.

Coordinates: 36°20′15″N 139°27′08″E / 36.3375°N 139.4522°E / 36.3375; 139.4522

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