Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #51: Unique
The Byodoin Temple is a Buddhist temple in the city of Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. The temple was initially built in 998 as a countryside retreat a for the most powerful of the Fujiwara regents, Fujiwara no Michinaga (966-1026). The villa was made into a Buddhist temple by his son Fujiwara no Yorimichi in 1052 AD.
The Beyodin Temple is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Getting off at the Uji train station, we walked through a quiet town, thirteen minutes later, we arrived at the Byodoin Temple site.
This is the first entry to the Byodoin:
Below is the first sight of the Phoenix Hall, the main building of the Byodoin:
This beautiful hall is one of the few original wooden structures still remaining in Japan from the Heian Period (710 – 1185 AD).
The phoenix was a popular mythical bird revered by the Japanese as a protector of Buddha. There are two elegant bronze phoenixes perched opposite each other on the roof of the hall.
Byodoin’s buildings were repeatedly lost to fires and other calamities over the centuries, however, the Phoenix Hall was never destroyed.
The Hall is an excellent example of Heian period architecture with graceful lines and elegant style.
Following a narrow, winding path, we were in the villa:
At the end of our self-tour, we were on top of the hill. We sat on a bench under the shade enjoying the sand garden and pond which was a little further away on the right.
The Phoenix Hall is unique in many ways. Its original wooden structures is remarkable and the scenic pond/garden is very special; and it is one of a few original wooden structures in Japan that has survived since 710.
The World Is A Book... 
You must be logged in to post a comment.