Travel to Japan: Nara: Gangoji

The Gangoji Temple was built in the 6th century at Asuka as the Hokoji Temple and was Japan's first Buddhist temple.  IThe King of Paekche, Korea, sent various specialists, including "tile doctors,"  to help with the temple's construction.  When the Emperor Gemmyo moved his capital from Asuka to Nara in 710, the temple moved with him and was renamed Gangoji.

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Gokurakubo main hall

Interior.

Altar.

Offerings.

Boddhisattvas.

Side view.

Adjacent to the hall, there is a potter's field for those who died during the Edo Period of epidemics and natural disasters. The bodhisattvas hold perpetual service for the dead.

Water.