Sainoo temple ruins

Buddhist temple in Kotoura, Tottori, Japan

35°28′53.4″N 133°42′41.4″E / 35.481500°N 133.711500°E / 35.481500; 133.711500Typetemple ruinsHistoryFounded6th century ADPeriodsHakuhō periodSite notesPublic accessYes (park, museum)

Special National Historic Site of Japan

Sainoo temple ruins (斎尾廃寺跡, Sai-no-o Haiji ato) is an archeological site with the ruins of a Hakuhō period Buddhist temple located in the Tsukishita neighborhood of the town of Kotoura, Tottori prefecture, in the San'in region of Japan. It was designated as a National Historic Site in 1935 with the designation changed to that of a Special National Historic Site in 1952.^[1]Due to the good condition of the remains, it is the only nationally designated Special Historic Site in the San'in region; however, as the temple does not appear in any documented history, its actual name and history are unknown.

History

The Sainoo temple ruins occupy a rectangular enclosure measuring 160 meters east-to-west, 250 meters north-to-south. Within are foundation stones indicating that the temple had a layout patterned after Hōryū-ji in Ikaruga, Nara, orientated to the south, with a pagoda to the west and the Kondō to the east. Archaeological excavations have found the foundations of the Middle Gate, cloisters and the bell tower. Fragments of roof tiles and Buddhist images have also been found. A reproduction model of the temple and some of the excavated items are displayed at Kotoura Town Adult Learning Center "Manabi Town Tohaku" and Hakuhokan Museum near the site.^[2]

The site is about ten minutes by car from Urayasu Station on the JR West San'in Main Line.^[2]

References

^ "斎尾廃寺跡" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Isomura, Yukio; Sakai, Hideya (2012). (国指定史跡事典) National Historic Site Encyclopedia. 学生社. ISBN 4311750404.(in Japanese)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sainoo temple ruins.

Tottori prefecture home page(in Japanese)
Kotoura Town Tourist Association home page(in Japanese)

Buddhist temples in Japan

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