Nara is the ancient capital city where the first capital was established in Japan. Nara flourished as the center of Japan before the Heian period, and many temples and shrines still exist in Nara. Among them, Kofukuji Temple, located south of Nara’s World Heritage Site Todaiji Temple, is known as Japan’s oldest temple of state protection.
Located in Nara Park, Kofuku-ji Temple is the head temple of the Hoso-shu sect, one of the six sects of the Nanto sect. Registered as a World Heritage site, the temple’s majestic complex and valuable cultural assets attract many tourists. Kofukuji Temple was founded in 710 by Fujiwara no Fuhito, son of Fujiwara no Kamatari. It was built as a clan temple of the Fujiwara clan when the capital moved to Heijo-kyo, and later developed along with the prosperity of the Fujiwara clan. However, did you know that this historic temple hides many mysteries and untold stories? In this article, we will unravel the history of Kofukuji Temple from its founding to the present, and introduce some of the mysteries lurking behind the temple and some interesting, little-known episodes.

Mystery of Kofukuji Temple, Nara (1) Mystery of Kofukuji Temple’s Construction by the Fujiwara Clan

The origin of Kofukuji Temple is said to have started with the healing of Emperor Temmu’s illness in the late 7th century.
Emperor Temmu built the Toyoke Grand Shrine in his palace in accordance with the oracle of Toyoke. When praying for the healing of his illness, he asked Jikaku Daishi, who had returned from China, for the blessings of Buddhism and ordered the construction of a temple, which is said to be the origin of Kofukuji Temple.
On the other hand, however, the relationship between the Toyoke Grand Shrine and Jikaku Daishi remains a mystery. Why was Jikaku Daishi, who had just returned from a trip to China, immediately assigned to serve Toyoke Grand Shrine? This episode reveals a glimpse of the cozy relationship between Buddhism and Shintoism, but there are some deeper aspects of the relationship that have yet to be elucidated.
Kofukuji Temple flourished as a “Fujiwara clan temple” and played an important role as the center of Japanese politics and culture during the Nara and Heian periods. During the Nara period (710-794), Kofuku-ji Temple flourished alongside Todai-ji Temple and Yakushi-ji Temple as a major temple for the four sects of Buddhism: the Sangon sect, the Seijitsu sect, the Kusha sect, and the Hoso sect, and contributed to the development of learning and culture.
During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), the temple received patronage from Minamoto no Yoritomo and the Hojo clan, and its power as a temple was strengthened. However, in the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the temple temporarily declined due to warfare, and during the Warring States period (1467-1568), it was hit by a large fire and many buildings were destroyed. In the Edo period (1603-1867), the temple was rebuilt by Tokugawa Ieyasu and Tokugawa Hidetada, and restored to its present form.

Mystery of Kofukuji Temple, Nara (2) Mystery of the Treasures Remaining in Kofukuji Temple

Kofuku-ji Temple has many valuable buildings designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties, such as the five-story pagoda, Toukondo, and Hokuendo. These buildings and Buddhist statues convey the superior techniques and artistry of their time to the present.
A pair of Ashura statues are enshrined in the south chamber of the South Endo Hall of Kofuku-ji Temple. These statues of Ashura are particularly famous among the treasures of Kofukuji. Their unique beauty and mysterious atmosphere attract many people. However, there are several mysteries surrounding this statue of Ashura.
The first mystery is the date of its creation. It is generally believed that the statue was created in the Nara period (710-794), but there is no clear record of the date of creation, and some researchers have suggested that it may have been created in the Asuka or Heian periods.
The second mystery is the facial expression of the statue of Ashura. At first glance, the statue’s characteristic facial expression seems to express sadness and anguish, but at the same time, it also seems to be deeply compassionate. This duality of expression is one of the charms of the Asura statues, and there has been much debate as to their intent. One theory is that these statues may represent the Wakiin Ashura (Riken no Ashura) of the Buddha’s arms. This Wangyin Ashura refers to a guardian deity-like figure of the Buddha.
However, this view has not been fully elucidated. However, an interesting mystery remains as to why this benign statue of Ashura is enshrined here.

Mystery (3): The Mystery of the Powerful Kofukuji Priests

From the end of the Heian period to the Kamakura period (1192-1333), when samurai warriors were on the rise and society became unstable, Kofukuji had a powerful group of monks who engaged in fierce power struggles with the Imperial Court and other temples.
How was it able to achieve such military might?
Kofukuji owned a vast manor as the Fujiwara clan’s clan temple, and this economic power allowed it to organize its own military force and arm itself without interference from the central government. In addition, Kofukuji’s priestly soldiers gained a certain amount of support from the people and increased their power by representing their discontent and contributing to the maintenance of social order.
These factors combined to give the Kofukuji priests a powerful military force that gradually became an influential force in politics and society.
However, this powerful force began to decline from the end of the Warring States Period to the beginning of the Edo Period, when Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu centralized power and disarmed the temples. Confiscation and restrictions on the temple’s territory were decisive, and Kofukuji’s economic power declined and it lost the funds to maintain a large group of priests.
Furthermore, with the establishment of the warrior class and the fixation of the status system, the monks lost their legitimacy to use force, and the Kofukuji monks’ military group ceased to exist.