Byōdō-in Temple

Welcome to Byodo-in, a UNESCO World Heritage site and arguably the most beautiful architectural expression of the Heian period. Located in Uji, a town legendary for its green tea, Byodo-in was not originally built as a temple. …

As we enter the grounds, the first thing that strikes you is the expansive Aji-ike Pond. In the Heian period, the garden was a vital component of the temple's spiritual message. …

We now stand before the Hōō-dō, or Phoenix Hall, the only original building from the ten fifty-three temple complex to have survived centuries of fires and civil wars. Its name comes from two sources: first, the building’s unique…

To see the heart of Byodo-in, one must look inside the Phoenix Hall. There sits the three-meter-tall statue of Amida Nyorai, the Buddha of Infinite Light. …

After absorbing the grandeur of the Phoenix Hall, we move to the Hoshokan, the temple’s modern, underground museum. This facility was designed to blend seamlessly into the hillside so as not to disrupt the historical landscape. …

Located on the southern side of the pond is the belfry, which once held another of Byodo-in’s National Treasures: the temple bell. The original bell, cast in the eleventh century, is now safely housed in the Hoshokan Museum to…

As we complete our circle around the pond, we pass by the Kannon-do Hall. While less famous than the Phoenix Hall, this building dates back to the early Kamakura period, roughly around twelve thirty. …

As we prepare to leave the grounds of Byodo-in, take one last look at the Phoenix Hall across the Aji-ike Pond. For nearly a thousand years, this vision has stood as a beacon of hope in uncertain times. …