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About Chugu-ji Buddhist temple in Ikaruga, Japan

Address: 〒636-0111 1-1-2 Horyuji Kita, Ikaruga-cho, Ikoma-gun, Nara Prefecture 0745-75-2106

Chūgu-ji Temple, adjacent to Horyuji Temple, houses a wooden Maitreya Buddha. which is unique in the posture of sitting on the left leg Place your right foot on your lap. and placing a hand on the cheek Like Rodin’s sculpture The Thinking Man, the Japanese call it “Poet of the Eastern Hemisphere” The “ancient smile”, the Maitreya Buddha created using this unique kiyose technique, is said to be the masterpiece of sculpture of that time.

What is Chugu-ji Temple?

Chūgū-ji is a temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan, that was founded as a nunnery in the seventh century by Shōtoku Taishi. Located immediately to the northeast of Hōryū-ji, its statue of Miroku and Tenjukoku mandala are National Treasures. Wikipedia

Chugu-ji Temple was built in the Asuka period, about 500m east of the current location. An excavation survey of the former site revealed that the temple was arranged in the Shitennoji style. Roof tiles of the same type as those of Wakakusa Garan were also unearthed, suggesting that Horyuji Temple and Chuguji Temple had a relationship of monks and nunnery. It is said that the National Treasure Bodhisattva half-legged statue (dennyoirinkannon) is the principal image of the main hall, and the Tenjukoku Mandala Embroidery Book was enshrined behind the principal image of the auditorium.

Kamakura Period

In the Heian period, the temple’s fortunes declined, leaving only the principal image and a small hall. It was Shinnyo Bikuni, the daughter of Kofukuji monk Shoen, who restored it in the Kamakura period. On February 26, 1274, Bikuni found the “Tenjukoku Mandala Embroidery Book”, whose whereabouts had been unknown, in the Gofuzo storehouse of Horyu-ji Temple, and returned it to Chugu-ji Temple. At the same time, she repaired the book, made replicas, and repaired the pagoda and main hall.

As Yamato Sanmonzeki pass on the tradition

After the fire in the 2nd year of Enkei (1309), the temple fell into decline again. . After that, six people, such as the Imperial Princess of Emperor Gosai and the Princess of Arisugawa-no-miya, entered the temple, and it became a monzeki temple to welcome the princesses of the Imperial family. Even today, the Imperial Household Agency manages the imperial mausoleum (graveyard) of the Imperial Palace. Along with Enshoji and Hokkeji, it is counted as one of Yamato’s three monzeki temples.

National Treasure Bodhisattva half-legged image (Dennyoirin Kannon)

This statue of half-legged thought is one of the greatest masterpieces of the Asuka period, and at the same time, it is an indispensable presence in the history of Japanese art.

Also, among international art historians, the gentleness of the face of this statue is highly evaluated as one of the few archaic smiles, and the Sphinx of Egypt, by Leonardo da Vinci Together with the Mona Lisa, it is also known as the “Three Smiles of the World”. With a half-legged posture, the left leg is drooped, the right leg is placed on the knee, the right hand is bent, and the tip of the finger slightly touches the cheek. You are here.

This statue of Chugu-ji Temple, which has inherited the 1,300-year-old tradition in the village of Ikaruga, will watch over us forever as its principal image.

The Tenjukoku Mandala Embroidery Book, known as Japan’s oldest embroidered relic, was created in the 30th year of Emperor Suiko (622) by Tachibana Dairome, the wife of Prince Shotoku. I ordered the maid of honor to have the state of Tenjukuni, where the Prince was born, embroidered.

Originally, it consisted of two embroidered books, on which 100 tortoise shells were embroidered, and each tortoise shell had four characters, a total of 400 characters, indicating the origin of the embroidered book. Fortunately, the full text of the inscription was written down in a book called “Jogu Shotoku Hoo Teisetsu”, and according to it, the paintings were drawn by Sueken of the Eastern Han, Kayo of Goryeo, and Kamiri of Han, who oversaw them. It was Hata Kuma Mukube. The mandala has been damaged over the years, and only a small part of the mandala remains today. The embroidered book retains its vivid colors. It can be said that it is a valuable relic for learning about the dyeing techniques, clothing, and Buddhist beliefs of the middle of the 7th century.

*** Currently, the one enshrined in the main hall is a replica, and the real one has been entrusted to the Nara National Museum.

Visiting hours:

• 10/1〜3/20
• 9:00 – 16:00 (Reception – 15:45)
• 3/21〜9/30
• 9:00-16:30 (reception – 16:15)

Admission fee: *Discount available for those who visit Horyuji Temple / *Separate discounts available for groups of 30 or more

• Adult 600 yen
• Middle school students 450 yen
• Pupils 300 yen

How to Get There:

By Train:

• JR Kyoto Station – Nara Line Rapid For Naraabout 50 minutes
• JR Nara Station – Yamatoji Line Rapid Train bound for JR Nambaabout 11 minutes
• JR Horyuji Station

By Bus:

• Horyuji Station – Bound for Horyuji Templeabout 8 minutes
• Horyuji Temple approach on footabout 8 minutes
• Chugu-ji Temple

*If you get off at Chuguji-mae on the way, please be careful as the road is complicated.

By Car:

• Meishin Expressway Kyoto South IC Kinki Expressway from Suita JCT Nishi-Meihan Expressway from Matsubara Junction Horyuji IC
  Route 25
• Chugu-ji Temple

*There is no general parking lot. Please use a nearby pay parking lot.

Directions to Chugu-ji Temple

• Chugu-ji Temple is about an 8-minute walk from Horyuji Nandaimon. It is convenient to follow the route on this map.