Nigatsu-dō
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nigatsu-dō (二月堂 literally "The Hall of the Second Month"?) is one of the important structures of Tōdai-ji, a temple in Nara, Japan. Nigatsu-dō is located to the east of the Great Buddha Hall, on the hillside of Mount Wakakusa. It comprises a sub-complex of Tōdai-ji by itself, including several architectures around.
Contents |
[edit] History
Nigatsu-dō was founded by the Buddhist monk Jicchu, a pupil of Rōben, as a place to hold a repensation service dedicated to the image of the eleven-faced Bodhisattva, Kannon. The service has come to be known as Shuni-e (修二会, lit. Second-Month Service), as it was held in the second month of the traditional lunisolar calendar.
While the first Shuni-e service is said to have been held by Jichu in another temple in 752, the original construction of Nigatsu-dō hall is estimated to have completed only somewhere between 756 and 772. The hall acquired its name of "Nigatsu-dō", following the service held there annually, without a single year missing since 752.
[edit] Architecture
Although the hall was saved from civil wars in 1180 and 1567 in which the Great Buddha Hall was lost, it was burnt down during the Shuni-e service of 1667. The hall was rebuilt two years later.
The current main hall of Nigatsu-dō is a designated National Treasure. The hall holds two Kannons, a large one and a small one, although both of them are classified as Hibutsu (秘仏), or literally "absolutely secret Buddhas", therefore not publicly shown.
[edit] See also
- Omizutori, the climax of Shuni-e service which takes place on March 12th every year.
