Byodo-in Temple, Phoenix Hall

The information about Byodo-in Temple is presented here. Byodo-in Temple was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1994 as a “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)”. Phoenix Hall (Houou-do) is Amida-do (Amida Hall) that houses the seated statue of Amida Nyorai. In 1670, Phoenix Hall (Houou-do) was extensively repaired, and around that time on, it was called from Amida-do (Amida Hall) to Phoenix Hall (Houou-do). The name of Phoenix Hall (Houou-do) comes from a pair of phoenixes installed on the roof of Phoenix Hall (Houou-do).

• Temple Location Map ＆ Directions
• Temple History
• Temple Highlights

【Byodo-in Temple Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: 116 Uji-renge, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): JR Uji Station on the JR Nara Line (about 10 minutes on foot), Keihan Uji Station on Keihan Railway Uji Line (about 10 minutes on foot)

【Opening Hours ＆ Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 8:30-17:30 (Garden), 9:30-16:10 (Phoenix Hall), 9:00-17:00 (Museum Hoshokan) Special night viewing is held during the cherry blossom season, the autumn leaves season.
Closed: open year round

【Entrance Fees ＆ Tickets (confirmation required)】

Individual: Adults 600 yen, Junior High and High School Students 400 yen, Elementary School Students 300 yen

【Byodo-in Temple History】

On the site of Byodo-in Temple (平等院) is located, there was the villa Uji-betsugyo, which was built in 859 by Minamoto no Toru, a prince of the 52nd Emperor Saga and the model for Hikaru Genji, the main character in Murasaki Shikibu’s “Genji Monogatari (Tale of Genji)”. After that, the villa passed through the 57th Emperor Yozei, the 59th Emperor Uda, and the 61st Suzaku Emperor, and then to Minamoto no Shigenobu, the grandson of the 59th Emperor Uda, and in 998, Fujiwara no Michinaga took over from Minamoto Shigenobu’s wife and made it the villa Uji-dono. In 1027, Fujiwara no Michinaga died, and Byodo-in Temple was founded as temple of the Fujiwara clan in 1052 by Fujiwara no Yorimichi (藤原頼通), the son of Fujiwara no Michinaga, and the Shinden of the Uji-dono was changed to Hon-do (Main hall). Incidentally, 1052 is considered to be the first year of Mappo, and the nobles prayed for gokuraku-ojo (peaceful death) and actively built Amida-do (Amida-Hall) to houses the statue of Amida Nyorai, the master of the Saiho Gokuraku Jodo (the Western Buddhist Pure Land). In the late Heian period (794-1185) , the spread of Mappo-Shisou that the correct teachings preached by the founder of Buddhism, Shakyamuni Buddha, would decline 2,000 years after his death, and that the world would be in disorder. In 1052, Kon-do (Main hall) was built, and in 1053, Phoenix Hall (Houou-do), which seems to have made the Saiho Gokuraku Jodo (the Western Buddhist Pure Land) appear, was built built and housed the statue of Amida Nyorai by the Buddhist sculptor Jocho. After that, temple buildings such as Hokke-do, Taho-to, Hozo, Godai-do, Fudo-do, and Kyozo were built, but many of them are said to have been destroyed by fire. Kannon-do is said to have been built on the site of Kon-do (Main hall) in the early Kamakura period (1185-1274). It is said that many of temple buildings were destroyed by fire caused by Kusunoki Masashige and the Ashikaga clan in 1336. In the Meio period (1492-1500), Eiku a priest of the Jodo sect, founded Jodo-in Temple, the sub-temple of Byodo-in Temple for the restoration of Byodo-in Temple. In 1654, a priest from Jushin-in Temple moved to Byodo-in Temple and founded Saisho-in Temple, the sub-temple of Byodo-in Temple. In 1681, Byodo-in Temple was jointly administered by Jodo-in Temple of the Jodo sect and Saisho-in Temple of the Tendai sect under the rule of the Jisha-Bugyo (magistrate of temples and shrines) . In 1670, Phoenix Hall (Houou-do) was extensively repaired, and around that time on, it was called from Amida-do (Amida Hall) to Phoenix Hall (Houou-do). In 1698, a great fire broke out in Uji City, and Byodo-in Temple was devastated.
*reference・・・Byodo-in Temple website

【Byodo-in Temple Highlights (May be undisclosed)】

★Phoenix Hall (Houou-do, Amida-do, Amida Hall, 鳳凰堂, 阿弥陀堂, National Treasure) was built in 1053 by Fujiwara no Yorimichi. Phoenix Hall consists of the central hall (中堂), the north wing corridor (北翼廊), the south wing corridor (南翼廊), and the tail corridor (尾廊). Phoenix Hall, excluding the phoenix statues, is about 13.5 meters high, 47 meters wide, and 35 meters deep. Phoenix Hall houses the seated statue of Amida Nyorai the central hall.
★Kannon-do (Kannon Hall, 観音堂, Important Cultural Property) was built on the site of Kon-do (Main hall) in the early Kamakura period (1185-1274). Kannon-do housed the eleven faces Kannon, which was carved in the late Heian period (794-1185).
★Garden (庭園, Place of Scenic Beauty and Historic Site) is said to have been created in the late Heian period (794-1185). Garden is Jodo style garden overlooking the Uji-gawa River and the mountains on the other side of the river, and Phoenix Hall built on the middle island of the Aji Pond. Garden is planted with cherry trees, maple trees, and other trees, and beautiful scenes can be seen in each of the four seasons.
Byodo-in Temple Highlights

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Kanpaku-ki is held every year on March 2nd. Kanpaku-ki commemorates Fujiwara no Yorimichi, who founded Byodo-in Temple in 1052.

【Flower Calendar (cherry blossoms, etc )】

★The best time to see cherry blossoms (桜) is from late March to early April. Weeping cherry trees and Somei-Yoshino are planted around Aji-ike pond in the garden. Byodo-in Temple is illuminated every year around the time of the cherry blossoms, and a special night viewing is held. (night illumination, 桜ライトアップ)
平等院桜ライトアップ (Byodo-in Temple night illumination)
★The best time to see autumn leaves (紅葉) is from mid-November to late November. Maples and cherry trees are planted around Aji-ike Pond. Byodo-in Temple is illuminated every year around the time of autumn leaves, and a special night viewing is held. (night illumination, 紅葉ライトアップ)
平等院紅葉ライトアップ (Byodo-in Temple night illumination)
★The best time to see wisteria (藤) is from late April to early May. There are three wisteria trellises in front of Omote-mon (main gate), next to Kannon-do (Kannon Hall), and in front of Man-mon gate. Three types of wisteria (Daruma wisteria, white wisteria, and Noda wisteria) are planted in front of Omote-mon and can be enjoyed free of charge.
(The best time to see the plants depends on the climate of the year.)

【Telephone (Please refrain from making phone calls.)】

Tel: +81-774-21-2861

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Byodo-in Temple is to cross the Uji-gawa River and head for Ujigami Shrine. Ujigami Shrine, like Byodo-in Temple, is a World Heritage Site, so a 30-minute walk will take you around the two World Heritage Sites. In addition, there are many cherry trees planted along the Uji-gawa River, and a walk along the Uji-gawa River is recommended during the cherry blossom season.
【Remarks (access, parking, disclaimer, etc)】
If you plan to visit Byodo-in Temple, be sure to check the latest information.