Otagi Nenbutsu-ji

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Otagi Nenbutsu-ji 愛宕念仏寺


The temple's main hall
Information
Denomination:	Tendai
Founded:	Middle of eighth century









Address:	2-5 Fukatani-chō Saga Toriimoto Ukyō-ku, Kyoto
Country:	Japan
Phone:	075-865-1231
Website
Website:	おたぎねんぶつじ
Portal:Buddhism

Rakan sculptures

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji (Japanese: 愛宕念仏寺) is a Buddhist temple in the Arashiyama neighborhood of Kyoto, Japan.

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji was founded by Empress Shōtoku in the middle of the eight century. Though was destroyed by the flooding of the Kamo River, it was rebuilt as an offshoot of Enryaku-ji, a nearby temple. In the 13th century, it again destroyed during a civil war. The temple was moved to its current location in 1922, later suffering typhoon damage in 1950.

The gate of the temple contains two fierce-looking Nio statues. Inside the temple are more than 1200 rakan, stone statues representing the disciples of Buddha. These statues, in keeping with rakan traditions, are generally humorous and kawaii. The sculptures were donated in 1981 in honor of the refurbishment of the temple. Most were carved by amateurs, taught by sculptor Kocho Nishimura.