Hannyaji Temple Thirteen-Storied Pagoda

A Stone Pagoda of the Kamakura Revival

The Hannyaji Temple Thirteen-Storied Pagoda (般若寺十三重塔) is a thirteen-storey stone pagoda of the Kamakura revival of 1253 in Hannyajicho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on April 17, 1902 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a thirteen-storey stone pagoda, designated together with an old stone finial and an old copper finial; designation number 00209.

The 1902 date in the Agency record is that of its designation under the former law.

A Stone Pagoda Marking the Revival

The thirteen-storey pagoda of Hannyaji is a stone pagoda of 1253, designated together with an old stone finial and an old copper finial (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency's commentary notes that Hannyaji is said to have begun as the retreat Hannyadai founded by the Goguryeo monk Ekan, later given a full set of halls by Emperor Shomu as a temple of imperial prayer. It was revived in the Kamakura period: the thirteen-storey stone pagoda was completed around 1253, and in 1267 a Monju statue commissioned by the monk Eison was consecrated. The sutra repository stands behind the pagoda, facing west (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Why It Is an Important Cultural Property

The Agency record has no commentary; the structure and date set out what was designated. It is a stone thirteen-storey pagoda of 1253, designated with two old finials (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

What to Look For

Look at the thirteen stacked stone roofs and the old finials kept with it (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

It is owned by Hannyaji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on visiting hours or fees was found. The gate, sutra repository and pagoda are introduced together on the Hannyaji Temple page.