View source for Hase-dera

{{For|the temple in [[Kamakura]] with the same name|Hase-dera (Kamakura)}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Buzan Shinrakuin Hase-dera
| native_name =
| image = Hasedera Sakurai Nara pref58s5s4272.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| location = 731-1 Hatsuse, Sakurai, Nara Prefecture
| coordinates =
| religious_affiliation = [[Shingon-shu Buzan-ha]]
| deity =
| country = Japan
| functional_status =
| website = http://www.hasedera.or.jp/index.html
| founded_by =
| year_completed = 8th century (727?)
}}
{{nihongo|'''Hase-dera'''|長谷寺}} is the main temple of the [[Shingon-shu Buzan-ha|Buzan sect of Shingon Buddhism]].  The temple is located in [[Sakurai, Nara|Sakurai]], [[Nara Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. The Main Hall is a [[National Treasure (Japan)|National Treasure of Japan]].
==Overview==
[[File:Hasedera Kannon-Mantoe02.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The staircase]]
According to the description on {{nihongo|the bronze plaque known as the Hokke Sessō-zu|銅板法華説相図|dōban hokke sessō zu}}, which is enshrined at Hase-dera,<ref>The plaque is a designated [[National Treasure of Japan]].</ref> the temple was first built in 686 and dedicated to [[Emperor Tenmu]], who was suffering from a disease. Later, in the year 727, the temple was expanded by order of [[Emperor Shōmu]] and a statue of the eleven-faced [[Guan Yin|Kannon]] was placed near the original temple that enshrined the bronze plaque. The temple has been burned down and rebuilt as many as ten times since the 10th century.
During the [[Heian period]] the temple was favored by members of the nobility, such as the authors of the ''[[Kagerō Nikki]]'' and the ''[[Sarashina Nikki]]''.  Hase-dera was consistently popular with visitors, helped by the fact it was situated on what was then the route to the [[Ise Shrine]].<ref name="Chado">{{cite book |title=Chado: The Way of Tea |pages=541 |author=Sanmi Sasaki |author2=Shaun McCabe |author3=Iwasaki Satoko |author4=Sen Sōshitsu XV |author4-link=Sen Sōshitsu XV |isbn=0-8048-3716-3 |year=2005 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing}}</ref> Later still, Hase-dera flourished as one of the centers of the reformed Shingon Buddhism, particularly after the arrival of priest Sen'yo from [[Negoro-ji]] in 1588.
The current Main Hall is a reconstruction of 1650 built using donations from [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]]. A covered wooden {{nihongo|staircase|登廊|''noborirō''}}, 200 metres long, leads to the Hall from the Niō Gate.<ref name="Chado"/><!-- It's called a noborirō on Hasedera's own site (http://www.hasedera.or.jp/kodomo/file/annai/noboriro.html) --> The temple is especially popular in the spring, when the 700 Chinese peonies that line the staircase are in bloom,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/nara/hasedera.html|title=Hase-dera Temple|website=www.jnto.go.jp}}</ref><ref name="Chris Rowthorn 2007 196">{{cite book |title=Lonely Planet Japan |pages=196 |author= Chris Rowthorn|isbn=978-1-74104-667-0|year=2007 |publisher=Lonely Planet}}</ref> and in the fall, when the leaves of the many maple trees in the temple grounds have turned red.<ref name="Chris Rowthorn 2007 196"/>
==Treasures==
[[File:Hokke Sesso Bronze Plaque Hasedera.JPG|thumb|Hokke Sesso Bronze Plaque]]
[[File:Hasedera Sakurai Nara pref16n4272.jpg|thumb|240px|The Staircase]]
[[File:Eleven-Faced-Kannon-Hasedera-Sakurai-Japan.jpg|thumb|[[Ekādaśamukha]]]]
[[File:Honbo of Hasedera Temple 001.jpg|thumb|240px|Office of Hase-dera in spring]]
The designated [[Important Cultural Properties of Japan|Important Cultural Properties]] at Hase-dera include:
*The [[Main Hall (Japanese Buddhism)|Main Hall]] (National Treasure): The Main Hall at Hase-dera is one of the largest halls in the Nara prefecture; the statue of the Eleven Faced Kannon is located in this hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/dd_aspx_menuid-1295.htm|title=Hasedera Temple|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008103133/http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/dd_aspx_menuid-1295.htm|archivedate=2009-10-08}}</ref>
*The bronze plaque of the Hokke Sessō-zu (National Treasure): This plaque measures 75&nbsp;cm (width) by 84&nbsp;cm (height) and features at its center a hexagonal three story pagoda, surrounded by a series of panels showing two Buddhas sitting on lotus seats, as well as various deities and monks. The lower panel features 27 lines of inscription that is boarded by two guardian gods.
*A copy of the ''[[Lotus Sutra]]''. (National Treasure)
*The [[Niōmon]] ([[Important Cultural Properties of Japan|Important Cultural Property]]): The [[Niō]] are present at the gates of many Japanese Buddhist temples, one on each side of the entrance. These statues are protectors of the temple, and can be thought of as two benevolent kings. These statues lend their name to the gate of the temple, which has become known as the Nio Gate (''niōmon''). The Nio have a threatening appearance in order to discourage demons and thieves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/nio.shtml|title=Nio Protectors of Japan - Japanese Buddhism Photo Dictionary|first=Mark|last=Schumacher|website=www.onmarkproductions.com}}</ref>
*The [[Shōrō]] (Important Cultural Property): In 1984 the original bell was replaced, and the original was placed in the treasure hall<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.djibnet.com/photo/%E9%95%B7%E8%B0%B7%E5%AF%BA/hase-dera-bell-blossoms-2469652725.html|title=Hase-dera: Bell & Blossoms|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710141303/http://www.djibnet.com/photo/%E9%95%B7%E8%B0%B7%E5%AF%BA/hase-dera-bell-blossoms-2469652725.html|archivedate=2011-07-10}}</ref>
*The Staircase (Important Cultural Property): The staircase is made up of 399 small stone steps, and is around 200 meters long. Pilgrims who visit the temple believe that when walking the staircase, it help to get rid of the 108 illusions that they believe lead to all human suffering.<ref>{{cite book |title=Pilgrimage: from the Ganges to Graceland: an encyclopedia, volume 10 |pages=229 |author= Linda Kay Davidson, David Martin Gitlitz|isbn=1-57607-004-2|year=2002 |publisher=ABC-Clio; illustrated edition}}</ref>
*The Eleven-faced [[Kannon]] (Important Cultural Property): The Statue of the Eleven Faced Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy) is 9.3 meters (or 31&nbsp;feet) tall and it is said that it was carved by a priest known as Tokodo.This is said to be the largest wooden statue in Japan. Its faces consist of one primary face and ten secondary faces that are said to allow Kannon to see all around, in case anyone is in need of her assistance.<ref name="Chris Rowthorn 2007 196"/>
<gallery>
File:Hasedera Hondo01.jpg|The Main Hall
File:Hasedera Sakurai Nara pref29s5s3200.jpg|The Main Hall
File:Hasedera Sakurai Nara pref04n3200.jpg|The Niō gate
File:Hasedera Sakurai Nara pref25n3200.jpg|The Bell tower
File:Hase-dera five Storeyed Pagoda and cherry trees.jpg|Pagoda
</gallery>
== See also ==
*[[List of National Treasures of Japan (crafts-others)]]
*[[List of National Treasures of Japan (temples)]]
*[[List of National Treasures of Japan (writings)]]
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
==References==
* {{cite book |title=Nara Mahoroba Somurie Kentei Official Textbook |pages=129 |author=Ed. Nara Chamber of Commerce |isbn=4-635-60050-5 |year=2006 |publisher=Yama to Keikoku sha}}
* Pamphlet distributed by Hase-dera on site. {{in lang|ja}}
==External links==
* [http://www.hasedera.or.jp/index.html Hasedera] (Japanese)
* [http://www.taleofgenji.org/hase.html Photos of Hasedera Temple]
* [http://hase-kanko.com/ Hase Tourist Association] (Japanese)
{{Coord|34|32|09|N|135|54|25|E|region:JP-29_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=title}}
{{Commons category|Hasedera (Sakurai)}}
{{Buddhist temples in Japan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hase-Dera}}
[[Category:Buddhist temples in Nara Prefecture]]
[[Category:Shingon Buddhism]]
[[Category:National Treasures of Japan]]
[[Category:Important Cultural Properties of Japan]]
[[Category:Temples of Avalokiteśvara]]
[[Category:Moto-Ise shrines]]
{{Shinmei shrines}}