Daizen-ji

The main hall at Daizen-ji Yakushi-dō (薬師堂) was built in the Kamakura period by the Shikken Hōjō Sadatoki. It was completed in 1290 and is the oldest building in the prefecture. The building is approximately square in layout, with 18 meter long sides and a simple pyramidal roof. In front are doors in the three middle spaces between the columns, and lattice widows on either side. There is one additional door on each side and in the center of the back of the building. The columns have two-stage wooden capitals to support the roof. The building was extensively repaired in the early Edo period, and was completely taken apart, examined and reassembled in 1954. The building was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan on August 28, 1907 and the designation was upgraded to that of a National Treasure of Japan on June 22, 1955.[1] The altar within the building dates from 1355 and is also included within the National Treasure designation.

The main image of Daizen-ji, this seated image of Yakushi Nyōrai is carved from a single block of cherry wood and is coated with lacquer and gold leaf. From its style, it dates from the early Heian period. The state is 85.5 cm tall. It is flanked by two standing attendants, a Nikkō Bosatsu and a Gakkō Bosatsu, both form the same period and both also carved from single blocks of wood, which the temple inexplicably refers to as Jizō Bosatsu in its home page. The statues were collectively designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan on April 4, 1905.[2]

The Yakushi Nyōrai of Daizen-ji is flanked by statues of the Twelve Heavenly Generals which date from the Kamakura period. Each statue is from 138 to 145 cm tall, and are attributed to the sculptor Renkei, an artist of the Kei school whose works are found at other temples in Kai Province. A couple of statues have the dates of 1227b and 1228. These statues were collectively designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan on June 7, 1999.[3]

In addition to the Nikkō Bosatsu and Gakkō Bosatsu which are part of the main image Yakushi Nyōrai, Daizen-ji has two larger statues of these divinities located outside the main altar, These statues were carved in the Kamakura period in the yosegi-zukuri technique with crystal inset eyes, and are in the style of the Kei school, and thus are contemporary with the statues of the Jūni Shinshō. The Nikkō Bosatsu is 248 cm tall, and the Gakkō Bosatsu is 247 cm tall. Inside, the statues were found to be stuffed with scrolls containing prayers and petitions from the Kamakura period. The statues and the documents found therein were collectively designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan in June 2007.[4]

The Wisteria Cutting Festival (藤切り祭) held every year on May 8 celebrates a mythological event in which En no Gyōja, a mountain ascetic, saved the lives of the local people by killing a large serpent. This festival is designated an intangible cultural asset.[5]