Saidai-ji

34°41′37″N 135°46′46.2″E / 34.69361°N 135.779500°E / 34.69361; 135.779500ArchitectureFounderJōtō and Empress KōkenDate established765Completed1808 (Reconstruction)Websitesaidaiji.or.jp

Saidai-ji (西大寺) or the "Great Western Temple" is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples in the city of Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple was first established in AD 765 as a counterpart to Tōdai-ji and it is the main temple of the Shingon Risshu (真言律宗) sect of Buddhism after the sect's founder, Eison (叡尊), took over administration in 1238.^[1] It has undergone several reconstruction efforts since then during the succeeding centuries.

One building, the Aizen-dō, houses a statue of Aizen Myō-ō, while the main image is of Shakyamuni Buddha, erected by Eison in 1249.^[1]

Building list

• Main Hall (Hondō – 本堂) – Important Cultural Property. It was rebuilt in 1808.
• Shiō-dō (四王堂) – It was rebuilt in 1674.
• Aizen-dō (愛染堂) – It was reconstructed in 1762.

• 
  Shiō-dō
• 
  Aizen-dō
• 
  Manjushri Bodhisattva (Monju Bosatsu)

See also

• For an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture, see the Glossary of Japanese Buddhism.
• List of National Treasures of Japan (crafts-others)
• List of National Treasures of Japan (paintings)
• List of National Treasures of Japan (sculptures)
• List of National Treasures of Japan (writings)
• Nanto Shichi Daiji, Seven Great Temples of Nanto.
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Yamato

References

External links

• "Saidai-ji Temple Homepage" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-02-05.

Japanese Buddhist architecture

Architectonic elements	hidden roof hisashi irimoya kaerumata: see nakazonae kairō karahafu karesansui kentozuka: see nakazonae komainu katōmado mokoshi moya nakazonae Niō or Kongōrikishi sandō shichidō garan shōrō sōrin tokyō tōrō onigawara
Mon (gates)	karamon nijūmon niōmon rōmon sanmon sōmon torii
Buildings	Chinjusha chōzuya/temizuya -dō main hall (kon-dō, hon-dō, butsuden) kuri kyōzō or kyō-dō shoin
Japanese pagodas	gorintō hōkyōintō hōtō kasatōba sotōba muhōtō tahōtō
Styles	Daibutsuyō Wayō Setchūyō Shoin-zukuri Shin-Wayō Zenshūyō Ōbaku Zen architecture
Others	A-un ken

Schools and objects of worship

Major schools	Jōdo Nichiren Shingon Tendai
Zen schools	Sōtō Ōbaku Rinzai
Nanto rokushū	Jōjitsu Hossō Kusha Kegon Ritsu Sanron
Objects of worship	Amida Nyōrai Benzaiten Dainichi Nyorai Jizō Kannon Marishi-ten Shaka Nyorai Shitennō (Four Kings) Twelve Heavenly Generals (Jūni Shinshō) Yakushi Nyorai

Other elements

Implements	kei (ritual gong) mokugyō
Others	bussokuseki butsudan Glossary of Japanese Buddhism Japanese Buddhist pantheon jingū-ji miyadera saisenbako