Changes

The Amida image itself was sculpted in the ''[[yosegi]]'' multiple-block method by [[Jocho|Jôchô]], who also produced many sculptures for the [[Hojoji|Hôjô-ji]] and other major temples founded around that time. A number of flying, dancing ''apsaras'', carved out of wood, circle the room, high on the walls, emulating again the environment or appearance of the Western Paradise.

The Amida image itself was sculpted in the ''[[yosegi]]'' multiple-block method by [[Jocho|Jôchô]], who also produced many sculptures for the [[Hojoji|Hôjô-ji]] and other major temples founded around that time. A number of flying, dancing ''apsaras'', carved out of wood, circle the room, high on the walls, emulating again the environment or appearance of the Western Paradise.

The [[1180]] [[First Battle of Uji]], which opened the [[Genpei War]], took place in and around the Byôdôin, and on nearby [[Uji Bridge]]<ref>Sansom, George. ''A History of Japan to 1334''. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1958. p278.</ref>. A [[Minamoto clan]] force, led by [[Minamoto no Yorimasa]] and [[Prince Mochihito]], and accompanied by a number of [[sohei|warrior monks]] from [[Miidera]], were chased here by [[Taira clan]] samurai. The Minamoto were defeated, Yorimasa committing suicide inside the Phoenix Hall; according to some sources, this was the first recorded instance of a ''[[seppuku]]'' in the midst of military defeat.

The [[1180]] [[First Battle of Uji]], which opened the [[Genpei War]], took place in and around the Byôdôin, and on nearby [[Uji Bridge]]<ref>Sansom, George. ''A History of Japan to 1334''. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1958. p278.</ref>. A [[Minamoto clan]] force, led by [[Minamoto no Yorimasa]] and [[Prince Mochihito]], and accompanied by a number of [[sohei|warrior monks]] from [[Miidera]], were chased here by [[Taira clan]] samurai. The Minamoto were defeated, Yorimasa committing suicide inside the Phoenix Hall; according to some sources, this was the first recorded instance of a ''[[seppuku]]'' in the midst of military defeat.

The temple was attacked and destroyed in the 1330s, leaving only the Phoenix Hall, bell tower, and a few other small structures standing today.

The temple was attacked and destroyed in [[1336]] during the conflicts between [[Kusanoki Masashige]] and [[Ashikaga Takauji]], leaving only the Phoenix Hall, bell tower, [[Kannon]]-dô and a few other small structures standing today.

The Byôdôin has been designated a World Heritage Site, along with many other sites under the collective designation "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)," and many of the sculptures and other objects associated with the temple have been designated National Treasures. A modern storehouse/museum on the site houses many of the older or more precious pieces, removed from the Phoenix Hall and maintained there for conservation purposes.

The Byôdôin has been designated a World Heritage Site, along with many other sites under the collective designation "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)," and many of the sculptures and other objects associated with the temple have been designated National Treasures. A modern storehouse/museum on the site houses many of the older or more precious pieces, removed from the Phoenix Hall and maintained there for conservation purposes.

==References==

==References==

*Mason, Penelope. ''History of Japanese Art''. Second Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. pp143-146.

*Mason, Penelope. ''History of Japanese Art''. Second Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. pp143-146.

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[[Category:Temples]]

[[Category:Temples]]

[[Category:Heian Period]]

[[Category:Heian Period]]