Daian-ji Temple
大安寺 · 나라시
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation2:10
Welcome to Daian-ji Temple, a place that embodies both the grandeur of ancient Nara and the intimate spiritual needs of the modern community. While the temple today may appear modest compared to giants like Todai-ji, its history…
Listen in the app2The Main Hall — A Sanctuary of Tenpyo Art2:12
We stand now before the Hondo, or Main Hall. While the current building is a relatively modern reconstruction, it serves as a protective shell for some of the most significant Buddhist art from the 8th-century Tenpyo era. …
Listen in the app3The Pagoda Ruins — Echoes of a Lost Skyline2:02
Let us walk a short distance to the east and west of the main complex to find the foundations of the East and West Pagodas. In the 8th century, these were some of the most impressive structures in all of Japan—two seven-story…
Listen in the app4The Setsubun Festival — Oni and the Spirit of Joy2:04
If you are here in early February, you will witness one of the most unique and lively Setsubun festivals in Nara. While most temples perform a standard bean-throwing ritual to drive out evil spirits, the Setsubun at Daian-ji is…
Listen in the app5The Bamboo Grove and the Sasa-zake Ritual2:06
A distinctive feature of Daian-ji is its association with bamboo. Within the grounds, you will find a lush bamboo grove that provides a refreshing green backdrop to the stone monuments. …
Listen in the app6The Hachiman Shrine — Shinto-Buddhist Harmony2:00
Just adjacent to the main temple complex is the Moto-Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine. This site is a fascinating example of Shinbutsu Shugo, the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism that characterized Japanese spiritual life for over a…
Listen in the app7The Treasure House — Preserving the Tenpyo Spirit1:58
Our final stop is the Homotsu-den, or Treasure House. This modern, climate-controlled facility was built to house the most fragile and valuable artifacts of Daian-ji, ensuring they survive for another thousand years. …
Listen in the app8Closing1:17
As we conclude our tour of Daian-ji, I hope you have gained an appreciation for the quiet resilience of this ancient site. It is a place that has witnessed the rise and fall of capitals, the loss of its grandest monuments, and…
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What is Daian-ji Temple?
Daian-ji Temple is a place in 나라시 with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | 나라시 |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Total length | 15 min 49 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 34.6680, 135.8127 |
| Last updated |