Changes

*''Japanese'': 広隆寺 ''(Kouryuu-ji)''

*''Japanese'': 広隆寺 ''(Kouryuu-ji)''

Kôryû-ji is a [[Shingon]] Buddhist temple in [[Kyoto]] famous for its 7th century statue of the [[bodhisattva]] [[Maitreya]] (J: ''Miroku'') which in [[1884]] became the first object to be designated a [[National Treasures|National Treasure of Japan]]. The temple houses 19 other National Treasures, and 48 [[Important Cultural Properties]].

Kôryû-ji is a [[Shingon]] Buddhist temple in [[Kyoto]] famous for its 7th century statue of the [[bodhisattva]] [[Maitreya]] (J: ''Miroku'') which in [[1884]] became the first object to be designated a [[National Treasures|National Treasure of Japan]].<ref>This sculpture has traditionally been identified as a depiction of Maitreya, but today many scholars suggest that the identity of the figure is unclear. Conrad Schirokauer, et al, ''A Brief History of Japanese Civilization'', Wadsworth Cengage (2013), 29.</ref> The temple houses 19 other National Treasures, and 48 [[Important Cultural Properties]].

The temple was established in [[603]] by [[Shotoku Taishi|Shôtoku Taishi]] and may be the oldest Buddhist temple still active in Kyoto today. The temple identifies its lecture hall (''Kôdô''), built in [[1165]], as the oldest building in Kyoto, though the pagoda at [[Daigo-ji]], built in [[951]], is the oldest wooden structure in the city.<ref>Daigo-ji official website.[https://www.daigoji.or.jp/en/explore/] The distinction is, perhaps, that pagodas are not built for human activities to take place within.</ref> The Kôdô houses a number of important treasures, including an eight-foot-tall wooden sculpture of [[Amida]] [[Buddha]] designated as a National Treasure, and statues of the bodhisattvas [[Jizo|Jizô]] and [[Kokuzo|Kokûzô]] (both Important Cultural Properties) flanking it.

The temple was established in [[603]] by [[Shotoku Taishi|Shôtoku Taishi]] and may be the oldest Buddhist temple still active in Kyoto today. The temple identifies its lecture hall (''Kôdô''), built in [[1165]], as the oldest building in Kyoto, though the pagoda at [[Daigo-ji]], built in [[951]], is the oldest wooden structure in the city.<ref>Daigo-ji official website.[https://www.daigoji.or.jp/en/explore/] The distinction is, perhaps, that pagodas are not built for human activities to take place within.</ref> The Kôdô houses a number of important treasures, including an eight-foot-tall wooden sculpture of [[Amida]] [[Buddha]] designated as a National Treasure, and statues of the bodhisattvas [[Jizo|Jizô]] and [[Kokuzo|Kokûzô]] (both Important Cultural Properties) flanking it.