List of National Treasures of Japan (writings: others)
Treasures -- Buddhist writings
Table:
Name	Authors	Remarks	Date	Format	Present location

Buddhist Sutras at Shōmyō-ji ; Documents of Kanazawa Bunko ( 称名寺聖教 金沢文庫文書 , shōmyōji shōgyō kanazawa bunko monjo )	-	-	1100 Heian period to Meiji period , 12th-19th century	16,692 ( Shōmyō-ji ) and 4,149 ( Kanazawa Bunko ) items	Kanagawa Yokohama Shōmyō-ji and Kanazawa Bunko , Yokohama , Kanagawa

Thirty booklets of handcopied sutras ( 三十帖冊子 , sanjūjō sasshi ) and Sutra Box with Auspicious Floral Motif and Kalavinkas ( 宝相華迦陵頻伽蒔絵𡑮冊子箱（𡑮＝土篇に「塞」） , hōsōgekaryōga makie sokusasshi bako )	Kūkai	Sutras brought back from his 804 visit to Hui-kuo at China by Kūkai ; box presented to Tō-ji by Emperor Daigo ; originally there were 38 books , 8 of which have been lost	0804 Heian period , 9th century ; box from 919	30 bound books and one box	Kyoto Kyoto Kyoto Ninnaji Ninna-ji , Kyoto

Teachings of the monk Shunyū ( 淳祐内供筆聖経 , shunyū naiku hitsu shōgyō ) or Fragrant teachings ( 薫聖経 , nioi no shōgyō )	Shunyū/Junyū ( 淳祐 )	-	0900 Heian period , 10th century	60 scrolls , one bound book	Shiga Otsu Ishiyamadera Ishiyama-dera , Ōtsu , Shiga

Segment of the Kongōhannyakyō Sutra Commentary ( 金剛般若経開題残巻 , Kongōhannyakyō kaidai zankan )	Kūkai	Segment of a commentary explaining the title of the Diamond Sutra . The full commentary was originally located in Sanbō-in before being cut in segments	0800 Heian period , 9th century	One handscroll , ink on Japanese tissue paper , 38 lines , 28.1 cm × 131.8 cm ( 11.1 in × 51.9 in )	Nara Nara Nara National Museum Nara National Museum , Nara , Nara

Collection of documents and Buddhist sutras at Daigo-ji ( 醍醐寺文書聖教 , Daigo-ji monjo seikyō )	-	Written materials including sacred teachings and documents . The items comprise the ancestral heritage of Daigo-ji	0710 Nara period to Meiji period , 8th-19th century	69,378 items , ink on paper	Kyoto Kyoto Daigoji Daigo-ji , Kyoto

Segment of the Kongōhannyakyō Sutra commentary ( 金剛般若経開題残巻 , Kongōhannyakyō kaidai zankan )	Kūkai	Segment of a commentary explaining the title of the Diamond Sutra . The full commentary was originally located in Sanbō-in before being cut in segments . Considered to be a draft	0800 Heian period , 9th century	One handscroll , ink on paper , 63 lines , 27.6 cm × 202.4 cm ( 10.9 in × 79.7 in )	Kyoto Kyoto Kyoto National Museum Kyoto National Museum , Kyoto

Great Sun Sutra commentary ( 大日経開題 , Dainichikyō kaidai )	Kūkai	-	0794 early Heian period	One scroll	Kyoto Kyoto Daigoji Daigo-ji , Kyoto

Rōkoshiiki ( 聾瞽指帰 ) or Sangō Shiiki	Kūkai	Comparative study of Confucianism , Taoism and Buddhism	0794 Heian period , 797	Two scrolls , ink on paper , 28.3 cm × 1,011 cm ( 11.1 in × 398.0 in ) ( 18 pages ) and 28.3 cm × 1,176 cm ( 11.1 in × 463.0 in ) ( 21 pages )	Wakayama Koya Reihokan Reihōkan ( owned by Kongōbu-ji ) , Kōya , Wakayama

The object of devotion for observing the mind in the fifth five-hundred year period ( 観心本尊抄 , Kanjin no Honzon Shō )	Nichiren	Explanation of the object of devotion in Nichiren 's teaching and description of the practice for attaining Buddhahood ; addressed to Toki Jonin , one of Nichiren 's followers	1273-12-08 Kamakura period , December 8 , 1273	One bound book , ink on paper , 17 pages : pages 1-12 33.0 cm × 54.2 cm ( 13.0 in × 21.3 in ) , pages 13-17 30.3 cm × 45.5 cm ( 11.9 in × 17.9 in )	Chiba Ichikawa Hokekyoji Hokekyō-ji ( 法華経寺 ) , Ichikawa , Chiba

Treatise on securing the peace of the land through the establishment of the correct teaching ( 立正安国論 , Risshō Ankoku Ron ) or On establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land	Nichiren	In this writing Nichiren aims to clarify the cause of a large number of natural disasters such as famines , floods , landslides and earthquakes that troubled Japan and Kamakura around the 1250s . His conclusion is that people should embrace the correct teaching . Document submitted to Hōjō Tokiyori	1260 Kamakura period , 1260	One scroll , ink on paper , 29.3 cm × 1,598.2 cm ( 11.5 in × 629.2 in )	Chiba Ichikawa Hokekyoji Hokekyō-ji ( 法華経寺 ) , Ichikawa , Chiba

Notes on Guidance Toward Birth in the West ( 西方指南抄 , saihō shinanshō ) or A Teaching to the Western Land or Collections Showing the Way to the West	Shinran	Compilation of Hōnen 's ( teacher of Shinran ) words in the form of writings , letters and records of words or events	1256 Kamakura period , 1256	Six books bound by fukuro-toji , 28.2 cm × 18.2 cm ( 11.1 in × 7.2 in )	Mie Tsu Senjuji Senju-ji , Tsu , Mie

Contemplation Sutra commentary ( 観無量寿経註 , Kanmuryōju-kyō chū )	Shinran	With annotations between lines and on the margin	1200 Kamakura period , 13th century	One scroll , ink on paper	Kyoto Kyoto Nishi Honganji Nishi Hongan-ji , Kyoto

Amitabha Sutra commentary ( 阿弥陀経註 , Amida-kyō chū )	Shinran	With annotations between lines and on the margin	1200 Kamakura period , 13th century	One scroll , ink on paper	Kyoto Kyoto Nishi Honganji Nishi Hongan-ji , Kyoto

A Collection of Passages Revealing the True Teaching , Practice and realization of the Pure Land Way ( 教行信証 , Kyōgyōshinshō ) , Bandō manuscript ( 坂東本 )	Shinran	Series of selections and commentaries on Buddhist sutras ; intermediate draft and only extant manuscript of the Kyōgyōshinshō with earlier versions going back to 1224	1235 Kamakura period , 1235	Six books bound by fukuro-toji	Kyoto Ōtani sect of Jodo Shinshu , Kyoto

Sanjō Wasan ( 三帖和讃 )	Shinran	Three collections of hymns praising the virtue of the bodhisattva and high priest : Jōdo Wasan ( Hymns of the Pure Land ) , Kōso Wasan ( Hymns of the Pure Land Masters ) and the Shōzōmatsu Wasan ( Hymns of the Dharma - Ages )	1200 Kamakura period , 13th century	Three books bound by fukuro-toji	Mie Tsu Senjuji Senju-ji , Tsu , Mie

Universally Recommended Instructions for Zazen ( 普勧坐禅儀 , fukan zazengi )	Dōgen	Written six years after Dōgen 's return from China	1233 Kamakura period , 1233	One scroll , ink on paper , 28.8 cm × 319.2 cm ( 11.3 in × 125.7 in )	Fukui Eiheiji Eiheiji Eihei-ji , Eiheiji , Fukui

Using the accompanying table plus the article excerpts provided.

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Kanazawa Bunko ( 金沢文庫 ) , formally titled the Kanagawa Prefectural Kanazawa-Bunko Museum , is a museum located in Kanazawa Ward , Yokohama , Japan . It features a collection of traditional Japanese and Chinese art objects , many dating from the Kamakura period . Originally build as a private library , Kanazawa Bunko was one of the two most important centers of learning in medieval Japan , with Ashikaga Gakkō being the other . The library was opened in 1275 by Hōjō Sanetoki ( 1224-76 ) , a grandson of Hōjō Yoshitoki , second regent of the Kamakura shogunate . The library 's collection has not remained intact , although some original documents remain . The existing building , built in 1990 , houses the existing collection . Kanazawa Bunko shares its name with Kanazawa-Bunko Station , which is a limited express stop station on the Keikyu Main Line of Keikyu Railways . Western side of the Temple garden with the pond is another open space , whose hill has two tunnels . One is closed with meshed wires . Another leads us to Kanazawa-Bunko Museum . The space at the mouth of the tunnels had a chateau of Kanasawa-Hojoh clan . Hojoh Sanetoki was a skilled politician and a dilettante who was already famous for his intelligence when he was 10 years old .
The Heian period ( 平安時代 , Heian jidai ) is the last division of classical Japanese history , running from 794 to 1185 . The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō , or modern Kyōto . It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism , Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height . The Heian period is also considered the peak of the Japanese imperial court and noted for its art , especially poetry and literature . Although the Imperial House of Japan had power on the surface , the real power was in the hands of the Fujiwara clan , a powerful aristocratic family who had intermarried with the imperial family . Many emperors actually had mothers from the Fujiwara family . Heian ( 平安 ) means peace in Japanese .
The Meiji era ( 明治 , Meiji , Japanese pronunciation : [ meꜜː ( d ) ʑi ] ) is an era of Japanese history which extended from October 23 , 1868 to July 30 , 1912 . This era represents the first half of the Empire of Japan , during which period the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonisation by European powers to the new paradigm of a modern , industrialised nation state and emergent great power , influenced by Western scientific , technological , philosophical , political , legal , and aesthetic ideas . As a result of such wholesale adoption of radically-different ideas , the changes to Japan were profound , and affected its social structure , internal politics , economy , military , and foreign relations . The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji and was succeeded upon the accession of Emperor Taishō by the Taishō era .
Yokohama ( Japanese : 横浜 , Hepburn : Yokohama , pronounced [ jokohama ] ( listen ) ) is the second largest city in Japan by population , and the most populous municipality of Japan . It is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture . It lies on Tokyo Bay , south of Tokyo , in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu . It is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area . Yokohama developed rapidly as Japan 's prominent port city following the end of Japan 's relative isolation in the mid-19th century , and is today one of its major ports along with Kobe , Osaka , Nagoya , Hakata , Tokyo , and Chiba .
Kanagawa Prefecture ( 神奈川県 , Kanagawa-ken ) is a prefecture located in Kantō region of Japan . The capital of the prefecture is Yokohama . Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area . Kanagawa Prefecture is home to Kamakura and Hakone , two popular side trip destinations from Tokyo .
Kalaviṅka ( Sanskrit : कलविङ्क kalaviṅka ; Chinese : 迦陵頻伽 Jiālíngpínqié ; Japanese : Karyōbinga ( 迦陵頻伽 ) , Korean : 가릉빈가 ; Vietnamese : Ca Lăng Tần Già ; Burmese : ကရဝိက် ; Thai : การเวก , Malay : karawek ) is a fantastical immortal creature in Buddhism , with a human head and a bird 's torso , with long flowing tail . The kalaviṅka is said to dwell in the Western pure land and reputed to preach the Dharma with its fine voice . It is said to sing while still unhatched within its eggshell . [ citation needed ] Its voice is a descriptor of the Buddha 's voice . In Japanese text , it goes by various titles such as myōonchō ( 妙音鳥 , exquisite sounding bird ) , kōonchō ( 好音鳥 , goodly sounding bird ) among others . Edward H. Schafer notes that in East Asian religious art the Kalaviṅka is often confused with the Kinnara , which is also a half-human half-bird hybrid mythical creature , but that the two are actually distinct and unrelated .
Kūkai ( 空海 ) , also known posthumously as Kōbō-Daishi ( 弘法大師 , The Grand Master Who Propagated the Buddhist Teaching ) , 774-835 , was a Japanese Buddhist monk , civil servant , scholar , poet , and artist who founded the Esoteric Shingon or mantra school of Buddhism . Shingon followers usually refer to him by the honorific title of Odaishisama ( お大師様 ) and the religious name of Henjō-Kongō ( 遍照金剛 ) . Kūkai is famous as a calligrapher and engineer . In legend he is attributed with the invention of the kana syllabary , with which the Japanese language is written to this day ( in combination with kanji ) , as well as the Iroha poem , which helped to standardise and popularise kana .
Huiguo ( Chinese : 惠果 ; pinyin : Huìguǒ ; Wade-Giles : Hui-kuo ) ( 746-805 ) was a Buddhist monk of Tang China who studied the Vajrayana tradition recently imported from India . Later Huiguo would become the teacher of Kūkai , founder of Shingon Buddhism , a prominent school of Buddhism in Japan .
Tō-ji ( 東寺 , Tō-ji ) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in the Minami-ku ward of Kyoto , Japan . Founded in 796 , it was one of the only three Buddhist temples allowed in the city at the time it became the capital of Japan . As such it has a long history , housing treasures and documents from the early Heian period and the Tang dynasty , and with buildings in its complex covering the Kamakura , Muromachi , Momoyama , and Edo periods . Five of these buildings have been designated National Treasures in two different categories : the Lotus Flower Gate ( rengemon ) , the Miei Hall ( mieidō ) , the Golden Hall ( kondō ) and the five-storied Pagoda ( gojūnotō ) ( temple buildings ) and the Kanchiin Guest Hall ( kanchiin kyakuden ) ( residences ) . Tō-ji was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 , as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto .
Emperor Daigo ( 醍醐天皇 , Daigo-tennō , February 6 , 885 - October 23 , 930 ) was the 60th emperor of Japan , according to the traditional order of succession . Daigo 's reign spanned the years from 897 through 930 . He is named after his place of burial .
Ninna-ji ( 仁和寺 , Ninna-ji ) is the head temple of the Omuro school of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism . Located in western Kyoto , Japan , it was founded in AD 888 by the retired Emperor Uda . It is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto , a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
Kyoto ( /kiˈoʊtoʊ , ˈkjoʊtoʊ/ ; 京都 Kyōto , Japanese : [ kʲoꜜːto ] ( listen ) ) , officially Kyoto City ( 京都市 , Kyōto-shi , Japanese : [ kʲoːtoꜜɕi ] ( listen ) ) , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan . Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu , Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe . As of 2018 , the city had a population of 1.47 million . In 794 , Kyoto ( then known as Heian-kyō ) was chosen as the new seat of Japan 's imperial court . The Emperors of Japan ruled from Kyoto in the following eleven centuries until 1869 , when the court relocated to Tokyo . The city was devastated during the Ōnin War in the 15th century and went into an extended period of decline , but gradually revived under the Tokugawa shogunate ( 1600-1868 ) and flourished as a major city in Japan . The modern municipality of Kyoto was established in 1889 . The city was spared from large-scale destruction during World War II and as a result , its prewar cultural heritage has mostly been preserved . Kyoto is considered the cultural capital of Japan and a major tourist destination . It is home to numerous Buddhist temples , Shinto shrines , palaces and gardens , many of which are listed collectively by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site . Prominent landmarks include the Kyoto Imperial Palace , Kiyomizu-dera , Kinkaku-ji , Ginkaku-ji and the Katsura Imperial Villa . Kyoto is also a center of higher learning , with Kyoto University being an institution of international renown .
A scroll ( from the Old French escroe or escroue ) , also known as a roll , is a roll of papyrus , parchment , or paper containing writing .
Ishiyama-dera ( 石山寺 , Stony Mountain Temple ) is a Shingon temple in Ōtsu in Japan 's Shiga Prefecture . This temple is the thirteenth of the Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage .
Ōtsu ( 大津市 , Ōtsu-shi ) is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture , Japan . Ōtsu is known as the main port of Lake Biwa , the largest lake in Japan . It briefly served as the capital of Japan from 667 to 672 AD during the Asuka period ( 538 - 710 ) . The city is home to numerous sites of historical importance , notably the temples of Mii-dera , Ishiyama-dera , and Enryaku-ji and the Hiyoshi Taisha shrine . Enryaku-ji is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto ( Kyoto , Uji and Otsu Cities ) . Ōtsu was incorporated as a town on April 1 , 1889 . In October 1 , 1898 , Ōtsu-town was officially changed to Ōtsu-city . As of October 1 , 2017 , the city has an estimated population of 341,187 and a population density of 730 persons per km2 . The total area is 464.51 km2 ( 179 sq mi ) .
Shiga Prefecture ( 滋賀県 , Shiga-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu . Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,412,916 ( 1 October 2015 ) and has a geographic area of 4,017 km² ( 1,551 sq mi ) . Shiga Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the north , Gifu Prefecture to the northeast , Mie Prefecture to the southeast , and Kyoto Prefecture to the west . Ōtsu is the capital and largest city of Shiga Prefecture , with other major cities including Kusatsu , Nagahama , and Higashiōmi . Shiga Prefecture encircles Lake Biwa , the largest freshwater lake in Japan , and 37% of the total land area is designated as Natural Parks , the highest of any prefecture . Shiga Prefecture 's southern half is located adjacent to the former capital city of Kyoto and forms part of Greater Kyoto , the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Japan . Shiga Prefecture is home to Ōmi beef , the Eight Views of Ōmi , and Hikone Castle , one of four national treasure castles in Japan .
Prajñāpāramitā means the Perfection of ( Transcendent ) Wisdom in Mahāyāna Buddhism . Prajñāpāramitā refers to this perfected way of seeing the nature of reality , as well as to a particular body of sutras and to the personification of the concept in the Bodhisattva known as the Great Mother ( Tibetan : Yum Chenmo ) . The word Prajñāpāramitā combines the Sanskrit words prajñā wisdom with pāramitā perfection . Prajñāpāramitā is a central concept in Mahāyāna Buddhism and is generally associated with the doctrine of emptiness ( Shunyata ) or 'lack of Svabhava ' ( essence ) and the works of Nagarjuna . Its practice and understanding are taken to be indispensable elements of the Bodhisattva path . According to Edward Conze , the Prajñāpāramitā Sutras are a collection of about forty texts . composed somewhere around Indian subcontinent between approximately 100 BC and AD 600 . Some Prajnāpāramitā sūtras are thought to be among the earliest Mahāyāna sūtras . One of the important features of the Prajñāpāramitā Sutras is anutpada ( unborn , no origin ) .
The Diamond Sūtra ( Sanskrit : Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra ) is a Mahāyāna ( Buddhist ) sūtra from the Prajñāpāramitā sutras or 'Perfection of Wisdom ' genre . Translated into a variety of languages over a broad geographic range , the Diamond Sutra is one of the most influential Mahayana sutras in East Asia , and is particularly prominent within the Chan ( or Zen ) tradition , along with the Heart Sutra . A copy of the Tang-dynasty Chinese version of the Diamond Sūtra was found among the Dunhuang manuscripts in 1900 by Daoist monk Wang Yuanlu and sold to Aurel Stein in 1907 . They are dated back to 11 May 868 . It is , in the words of the British Library , the earliest complete survival of a dated printed book . It is also the first creative work with an explicit public domain dedication , as its colophon at the end states that it was created for universal free distribution .
Sanbō-in ( 三宝院 , Sanbō-in ) is a Buddhist temple in southern Kyoto , Japan , known today primarily for the quality of its garden .
Japanese tissue is a thin , strong paper made from vegetable fibers . Japanese tissue may be made from one of three plants , the kōzo plant ( Broussonetia papyrifera , paper mulberry tree ) , the mitsumata ( Edgeworthia chrysantha ) shrub and the gampi tree ( Diplomorpha sikokiana ) . The long , strong fibers of the kōzo plant produce very strong , dimensionally stable papers , and are the most commonly used fibers in the making of Japanese paper ( washi ) . Tissue made from kōzo , or kōzogami ( 楮紙 ) , comes in varying thicknesses and colors , and is an ideal paper to use in the mending of books . The majority of mending tissues are made from kōzo fibers , though mitsumata and gampi papers also are used .
The Nara National Museum ( 奈良国立博物館 , Nara Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan ) is one of the pre-eminent national art museums in Japan .
Nara ( 奈良市 , Nara-shi , Japanese : [ naꜜɾa ] ) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture located in the Kansai region of Japan . The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture , bordering Kyoto Prefecture . Eight temples , shrines , and ruins in Nara remain : specifically Tōdai-ji , Saidai-ji , Kōfuku-ji , Kasuga Shrine , Gangō-ji , Yakushi-ji , Tōshōdai-ji , and the Heijō Palace , together with Kasugayama Primeval Forest , collectively form Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara , a UNESCO World Heritage Site . During the Nara period , Nara was the capital of Japan , and the Emperor lived there before moving the capital to Kyoto .
Nara Prefecture ( 奈良県 , Nara-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu . Nara Prefecture has a population of 1,348,930 ( 1 September 2017 ) and has a geographic area of 3,691 km² ( 1,425 sq mi ) . Nara Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the north , Osaka Prefecture to the northwest , Wakayama Prefecture to the southwest , and Mie Prefecture to the east . Nara is the capital and largest city of Nara Prefecture , with other major cities including Kashihara , Ikoma , and Yamatokōriyama . Nara Prefecture is located in the center of the Kii Peninsula on Japan 's Pacific Ocean coast , and is one of only eight landlocked prefectures . Nara Prefecture has the distinction of having more UNESCO World Heritage listings than any other prefecture in Japan .
Daigo-ji ( 醍醐寺 , Daigo-ji ) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Fushimi-ku , Kyoto , Japan . Its main devotion ( honzon ) is Yakushi . Daigo , literally ghee , is used figuratively to mean crème de la crème and is a metaphor of the most profound part of Buddhist thoughts .
The Nara period ( 奈良時代 , Nara jidai ) of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794 . Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō ( present-day Nara ) . Except for a five-year period ( 740-745 ) , when the capital was briefly moved again , it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kanmu established a new capital , Nagaoka-kyō , in 784 , before moving to Heian-kyō , modern Kyoto , a decade later in 794 . Japanese society during this period was predominately agricultural and centered around village life . Most of the villagers followed a religion based on the worship of natural and ancestral spirits named kami which is Shintoism The capital at Nara was modeled after Chang'an , the capital city of the Tang dynasty . In many other ways , the Japanese upper classes patterned themselves after the Chinese , including adopting the Chinese writing system , Chinese fashion , and a Chinese version of Buddhism .
The Kyoto National Museum ( 京都国立博物館 , Kyōto Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan ) is one of the major art museums in Japan . Located in Kyoto 's Higashiyama ward , the museum focuses on pre-modern Japanese and Asian art .
The Mahāvairocana Tantra ( traditional Chinese : 大毘盧遮那成佛神變加持經 ; ; pinyin : Dà Pílúzhēnà Chéngfó Shénbiàn Jiāchí Jīng ; also known as 大日经 Da ri Jing ) is an important Vajrayana Buddhist text . It is also known as the Mahāvairocana Abhisaṃbodhi Tantra , or more fully as the Mahāvairocana Abhisaṃbodhi Vikurvita Adhiṣṭhāna Tantra . In Tibet it is considered to be a member of the Carya class of tantras . In Japan where it is known as the Mahāvairocana Sūtra ( Daibirushana jōbutsu jinpen kajikyō ) , it is one of two central texts in the Shingon school , along with the Vajrasekhara Sutra . Both are also part of the Tendai school .
Sangō Shiiki ( 三教指帰 ) is a dialectic allegory written by Kūkai in 797 . It is Japan 's oldest comparative ideological critique . At the time of writing , Kūkai was 24 years old . It is his debut work .
Confucianism , also known as Ruism , is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China . Variously described as tradition , a philosophy , a religion , a humanistic or rationalistic religion , a way of governing , or simply a way of life , Confucianism developed from what was later called the Hundred Schools of Thought from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius ( 551-479 BCE ) . Confucius considered himself a recodifier and retransmitter of the theology and values inherited from the Shang ( c. 1600-1046 BCE ) and Zhou dynasties ( c. 1046-256 BCE ) for the Warring States period . Confucianism was suppressed during the Legalist and autocratic Qin dynasty ( 221-206 BCE ) , but survived . During the Han dynasty ( 206 BCE-220 CE ) , Confucian approaches edged out the proto-Taoist Huang-Lao as the official ideology , while the emperors mixed both with the realist techniques of Legalism . A Confucian revival began during the Tang dynasty ( 618-907 ) . In the late Tang , Confucianism developed in response to Buddhism and Taoism and was reformulated as Neo-Confucianism . This reinvigorated form was adopted as the basis of the imperial exams and the core philosophy of the scholar official class in the Song dynasty ( 960-1297 ) . The abolition of the examination system in 1905 marked the end of official Confucianism . The intellectuals of the New Culture Movement of the early twentieth century blamed Confucianism for China 's weaknesses . They searched for new doctrines to replace Confucian teachings ; some of these new ideologies include the Three Principles of the People with the establishment of the Republic of China , and then Maoism under the People 's Republic of China . In the late twentieth century Confucian work ethic has been credited with the rise of the East Asian economy .
Daoism ( /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ , /ˈdaʊ-/ ) , or Taoism ( /ˈtaʊ-/ ) , is a philosophical or religious tradition of Chinese origin which emphasises living in harmony with the Dao ( Chinese : 道 ; pinyin : Dào ; literally : 'the Way ' , also romanized as Tao ) . The Dao is a fundamental idea in most Chinese philosophical schools ; in Daoism , however , it denotes the principle that is the source , pattern and substance of everything that exists . Daoism differs from Confucianism by not emphasising rigid rituals and social order , but is similar in the sense that it is a teaching about the various disciplines for achieving perfection by becoming one with the unplanned rhythms of the universe called the way or dao . Daoist ethics vary depending on the particular school , but in general tend to emphasise wu wei ( action without intention ) , naturalness , simplicity , spontaneity , and the Three Treasures : 慈 compassion , 儉 frugality , and 不敢為天下先 humility . The roots of Daoism go back at least to the 4th century BCE . Early Daoism drew its cosmological notions from the School of Yinyang ( Naturalists ) , and was deeply influenced by one of the oldest texts of Chinese culture , the I Ching ( Yi Jing ) , which expounds a philosophical system about how to keep human behavior in accordance with the alternating cycles of nature . The Legalist Shen Buhai ( c. 400 - c. 337 BCE ) may also have been a major influence , expounding a realpolitik of wu wei . The Dao De Jing , a compact book containing teachings attributed to Laozi ( 老子 ; Lǎozǐ ; Lao³ Tzŭ³ ) , is widely considered the keystone work of the Daoist tradition , together with the later writings of Zhuangzi . Daoism has had a profound influence on Chinese culture in the course of the centuries , and Daoists ( 道士 ; dàoshi , masters of the Dao ) , a title traditionally attributed only to the clergy and not to their lay followers , usually take care to note distinction between their ritual tradition and the practices of Chinese folk religion and non-Taoist vernacular ritual orders , which are often mistakenly identified as pertaining to Daoism . Chinese alchemy ( especially neidan ) , Chinese astrology , Chan ( Zen ) Buddhism , several martial arts , traditional Chinese medicine , feng shui , and many styles of qigong have been intertwined with Daoism throughout history . Beyond China , Taoism also had influence on surrounding societies in Asia . Today , the Daoist tradition is one of the five religious doctrines officially recognised in the People 's Republic of China ( PRC ) as well as the Republic of China ( ROC ) , and although it does not travel readily from its East Asian roots , [ citation needed ] it claims adherents in a number of societies , in particular in Hong Kong , Macau , and in Southeast Asia .
Buddhism ( /ˈbʊdɪzəm/ , US : /ˈbuːd-/ ) is the world 's fourth-largest religion with over 520 million followers , or over 7% of the global population , known as Buddhists . [ web 1 ] Buddhism encompasses a variety of traditions , beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on original teachings attributed to the Buddha and resulting interpreted philosophies . It originated in ancient India as a Sramana tradition sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE , spreading through much of Asia . Two major extant branches of Buddhism are generally recognized by scholars : Theravada ( Pali : The School of the Elders ) and Mahayana ( Sanskrit : The Great Vehicle ) . Most Buddhist traditions share the goal of overcoming suffering and the cycle of death and rebirth , either by the attainment of Nirvana or through the path of Buddhahood . Buddhist schools vary in their interpretation of the path to liberation , the relative importance and canonicity assigned to the various Buddhist texts , and their specific teachings and practices . Widely observed practices include taking refuge in the Buddha , the Dharma and the Sangha , observance of moral precepts , monasticism , meditation , and the cultivation of the Paramitas ( perfections , or virtues ) . Theravada Buddhism has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia such as Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar and Thailand . Mahayana , which includes the traditions of Pure Land , Zen , Nichiren Buddhism , Shingon and Tiantai ( Tendai ) , is found throughout East Asia . Vajrayana , a body of teachings attributed to Indian adepts , may be viewed as a separate branch or as an aspect of Mahayana Buddhism . Tibetan Buddhism , which preserves the Vajrayana teachings of eighth-century India , is practised in the countries of the Himalayan region , Mongolia , and Kalmykia .
Kōyasan Reihōkan ( 高野山 霊宝館 , lit . Kōyasan Museum of Sacred Treasures ) is an art museum on Kōya-san , Wakayama Prefecture , Japan , preserving and displaying Buddhist art owned by temples on Kōya-san . The collection is centered around articles from the Heian and Kamakura periods and includes paintings , calligraphy , sutras , sculpture and Buddhist ritual objects . Among these are a set of the complete Buddhist canon ( issaikyō ) , writings of Kūkai and Minamoto no Yoritomo , founder of the Kamakura Shogunate , mandalas and portraits of priests . The most valuable objects have been designated as National Treasure or Important Cultural Property .
Kongōbu-ji ( 金剛峯寺 ) is the ecclesiastic head temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism , located on Mount Kōya ( 高野山 , Kōya-san ) , Wakayama prefecture , Japan . Its name means Temple of the Diamond Mountain Peak . It is part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range UNESCO World Heritage Site . The temple was first constructed as Seigan-ji Temple in 1593 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi on the death of his mother , rebuilt in 1861 , and given its present name in 1869 . It contains many sliding screen doors painted by Kanō Tanyū ( 1602-1674 ) and members of the Kyoto Kanō school . The temples modern Banryūtei ( 蟠龍庭 rock garden ) is Japan 's largest ( 2340 square meters ) , with 140 granite stones arranged to suggest a pair of dragons emerging from clouds to protect the temple . The 413th abbot of Kongobuji is Reverend Keiho Nakanishi , who also acts as the archbishop of the Koyasan Shingon school . At the temple , visitors can listen to the sermons of the monks and participate in ajikan meditation sessions . The term ajikan refers to a fundamental breathing and meditation method of Shingon Buddhism : meditating on the letter A written using the Siddhaṃ alphabet .
Kōya ( 高野町 , Kōya-chō ) is a town located on a plateau atop Mt . Koya in Ito District , Wakayama Prefecture , Japan . The town is known as the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism . As of October 1 , 2016 , the town has an estimated population of 3,279 and a density of 24 persons per km² . The total area is 137.08 km² .
Wakayama Prefecture ( 和歌山県 , Wakayama-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region , located on the southernmost point of Honshū island . The capital is the city of Wakayama .
Nichiren ( Kanji : 日蓮 ; born as Zen-nichi-maro ( 善日麿 ) , Dharma name : Rencho - 16 February 1222 - 13 October 1282 ) was a Japanese Buddhist priest of the Kamakura period ( 1185-1333 ) , who developed the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism , a branch school of Mahayana Buddhism . Nichiren :77:1 declared that the Lotus Sutra alone contains the highest truth of Buddhist teachings suited for the Third Age of Buddhism . He advocated the repeated recitation of its title , Nam ( u ) -myoho-renge-kyo and held that Shakyamuni Buddha and all other Buddhist deities were extraordinary manifestations of a particular Buddha-nature termed Myoho - Renge that is equally accessible to all . He declared that believers of the Sutra must propagate it even under persecution . Nichiren was a prolific writer and his biography , temperament , and the evolution of his beliefs has been gleaned primarily from his own writings . :99:442 After his death , he was bestowed the title Nichiren Dai-Bosatsu ( 日蓮大菩薩 ) ( Great Bodhisattva Nichiren ) by Emperor Go-Kōgon ( 1358 ) and the title Risshō Daishi ( 立正大師 ) ( Great Teacher of Rectification ) was conferred posthumously in year 1922 by imperial edict . Today , Nichiren Buddhism includes traditional temple schools such as Nichiren-shu and Nichiren Shōshū , as well as lay movements such as Soka Gakkai , Risshō Kōsei Kai , Reiyūkai , Kenshōkai , Honmon Butsuryū-shū , Kempon Hokke , and Shōshinkai among many others . Each group has varying views of Nichiren 's teachings with claims and interpretations of Nichiren 's identity ranging from the rebirth of bodhisattva Visistacaritra to the primordial or true ( 本仏 : Honbutsu ) Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law .
The Kamakura period ( 鎌倉時代 , Kamakura jidai , 1185-1333 ) is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate , officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shōgun , Minamoto no Yoritomo . The period is known for the emergence of the samurai , the warrior caste , and for the establishment of feudalism in Japan . The Kamakura period ended in 1333 with the destruction of the shogunate and the short re-establishment of imperial rule under Emperor Go-Daigo by Ashikaga Takauji , Nitta Yoshisada , and Kusunoki Masashige .
Ichikawa City ( 市川市 , Ichikawa-shi ) is in western Chiba Prefecture , Japan , facing Tokyo across the Edogawa River . It is located approximately 20 kilometers from the center of Tokyo and has been developing as an educational and residential city . The city has a concentration of the wide-area traffic network that connects the center of Tokyo with many areas of Chiba Prefecture . Major rail routes and roads pass through the city . The northern part of the city is a prosperous agricultural region , boasting one of the highest production rates for pears in the country . There is a plenty of green space in Ichikawa , including many forests around residential areas . It is also an educational area with a variety of schools . The southern part of the city faces Tokyo Bay and plays a role in the Tokyo-Chiba industrial zone while forming a new urban residential area .
Chiba Prefecture ( 千葉県 , Chiba-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region , and the Greater Tokyo Area . The sixth most populous prefecture , and 27th largest by land area , Chiba is on the east coast of Honshu and largely consists of the Bōsō Peninsula , which encloses the eastern side of Tokyo Bay . Its capital is the city of Chiba .
Hōjō Tokiyori ( 北条時頼 , June 29 , 1227 - December 24 , 1263 ) was the fifth shikken ( regent ) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan .
Shinran ( 親鸞 , May 21 , 1173 - January 16 , 1263 ) was a Japanese Buddhist monk , who was born in Hino ( now a part of Fushimi , Kyoto ) at the turbulent close of the Heian Period and lived during the Kamakura Period . Shinran was a pupil of Hōnen and the founder of what ultimately became the Jōdo Shinshū sect in Japan .
Hōnen ( 法然 , May 13 , 1133 - February 29 , 1212 ) was the religious reformer and founder of the first independent branch of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism called Jōdo-shū ( 浄土宗 , The Pure Land School ) . He is also considered the Seventh Jōdo Shinshū Patriarch . Hōnen became a Tendai initiate at an early age , but grew disaffected and sought an approach to Buddhism that anyone could follow , even during the perceived Age of Dharma Decline . After discovering the writings of the Chinese Buddhist Shandao , he undertook the teaching of rebirth in the pure land of Amitābha through nianfo or recitation of the Buddha 's name . Hōnen gathered a wide array of followers and critics . Emperor Tsuchimikado exiled Hōnen and his followers in 1207 after an incident regarding two of his disciples in addition to persuasion by influential Buddhist communities . Hōnen was eventually pardoned and allowed to return to Kyoto , where he stayed for a short time before his death .
Senju-ji ( 専修寺 ) , also known as Takadayama ( 高田山 ) , refers to a pair of temples which are the chief Buddhist temples of the Takada branch of Jōdo Shinshū , a Japanese Buddhist sect . The current head temple , Senju-ji Honzan , founded in the 15th century , is located in Mie Prefecture . The original head temple , Senju-ji Hon-ji , founded in 1225 , is located in Tochigi Prefecture . Both temples are governed by the same abbot .
Tsu ( 津市 , Tsu-shi ) is the capital city of Mie Prefecture , Japan . As of August 2015 , the city had an estimated population of 279,304 and a population density of 393 persons per km2 . The total area was 711.11 square kilometres ( 274.56 sq mi ) .
Mie Prefecture ( 三重県 , Mie-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu . Mie Prefecture has a population of 1,781,948 ( 1 June 2019 ) and has a geographic area of 5,774 km² ( 2,229 sq mi ) . Mie Prefecture borders Gifu Prefecture to the north , Shiga Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture to the northwest , Nara Prefecture to the west , Wakayama Prefecture to the southwest , and Aichi Prefecture to the east . Tsu is the capital and Yokkaichi is the largest city of Mie Prefecture , with other major cities including Suzuka , Matsusaka , and Kuwana . Mie Prefecture is located on the eastern coast of the Kii Peninsula , forming the western side of Ise Bay which features the mouths of the Kiso Three Rivers . Mie Prefecture is a popular tourism destination home to Nagashima Spa Land , Suzuka International Racing Course , and some of the oldest and holiest sites in Shinto , the traditional religion of Japan , including the Ise Grand Shrine and the Tsubaki Grand Shrine .
The Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra ( Sanskrit ; traditional Chinese : 佛說觀無量壽佛經 ) is a Mahayana sutra in Pure Land Buddhism , a branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism . It is one of the three principle Pure Land sutras along with the Infinite Life Sutra and the Amitabha Sutra . Amitāyus is another name for the Buddha Amitābha , the preeminent figure in Pure Land Buddhism , and this sūtra focuses mainly on meditations involving complex visualization . This is reflected in the name of the sūtra , which translates to the Amitāyus Meditation Sūtra . It is generally considered by modern scholarship to be apocryphal , a composition originally written in Chinese . No Sanskrit original has been discovered and the Sanskrit name and Sanskrit versions would thus be reverse translations . :10 According to Paul Williams , a more accurate Sanskrit title for this text would be Amitāyurbuddhānusmṛti Sūtra , meaning Amitāyus Buddha-mindfulness Sūtra .
Nishi Hongan-ji ( 西本願寺 ) is a Jōdo Shinshū Buddhist temple in the Shimogyō ward of Kyoto , Japan . It is one of two Jōdo Shinshū temple complexes in Kyoto , the other being Higashi Hongan-ji . Jōdo Shinshū is a school of Pure Land Buddhism , and today Nishi Hongan-ji serves as the head temple of the organization . Established in its current location in 1591 , the origin of the temple goes back to the 14th century . Many of its building have survived from the Azuchi-Momoyama and early Edo period , making it a great example of the Japanese architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries . A total of seven Nishi Hongan-ji structures have been designated National Treasures in three different categories : the karamon , Goei-dō and Amida hall ( temple buildings ) , the Flying Cloud Pavilion , shoin and the Black study hall , including the Denrō gallery ( residences ) and the north Noh stage ( miscellaneous structure ) . Nishi Hongan-ji was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 , as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto .
The Shorter Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra is one of the two Indian Mahayana sutras that describe Sukhavati , the pure land of Amitābha . This text is highly influential in East Asian Buddhism , including China , Korea , Japan , and Vietnam . This text is revered by the Jōdo Shinshū , one of Japan 's largest Buddhist congregations . The original Sanskrit versions of the Shorter Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra and Longer Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra were translated into English by Luis Gomez in The Land of Bliss .
Kenjōdo Shinjitsu Kyōgyōshō Monrui ( 顕浄土真実教行証文類 ) , often abbreviated to Kyōgyōshinshō ( 教行信証 ) , is the magnum opus of Shinran Shonin , the founder of the Japanese Buddhist sect , Jodo Shinshu . The title is often translated as The True Teaching , Practice , and Realization of the Pure Land Way in English . The work was written after Shinran 's exile , and is believed to have been composed in the year 1224 . It represents a synthesis of various Buddhist sutras in Mahayana literature , including the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life , the Nirvana Sutra , the Avatamsaka Sutra and the Mahaprajñaparamita Sutra . In this way , Shinran expounds Jodo Shinshu thought . The work is divided into six chapters , not including the Preface :
Sutra ( Sanskrit : सूत्र , romanized : sūtra , lit . 'string , thread ' ) in Indian literary traditions refers to an aphorism or a collection of aphorisms in the form of a manual or , more broadly , a condensed manual or text . Sutras are a genre of ancient and medieval Indian texts found in Hinduism , Buddhism and Jainism . In Hinduism , sutras are a distinct type of literary composition , a compilation of short aphoristic statements . Each sutra is any short rule , like a theorem distilled into few words or syllables , around which teachings of ritual , philosophy , grammar , or any field of knowledge can be woven . The oldest sutras of Hinduism are found in the Brahmana and Aranyaka layers of the Vedas . Every school of Hindu philosophy , Vedic guides for rites of passage , various fields of arts , law , and social ethics developed respective sutras , which help teach and transmit ideas from one generation to the next . In Buddhism , sutras , also known as suttas , are canonical scriptures , many of which are regarded as records of the oral teachings of Gautama Buddha . They are not aphoristic , but are quite detailed , sometimes with repetition . This may reflect a philological root of sukta ( well spoken ) , rather than sutra ( thread ) . In Jainism , sutras also known as suyas are canonical sermons of Mahavira contained in the Jain Agamas as well as some later ( post-canonical ) normative texts .
Jōdo Shinshū ( 浄土真宗 , The True Essence of the Pure Land Teaching ) , also known as Shin Buddhism or True Pure Land Buddhism , is a school of Pure Land Buddhism . It was founded by the former Tendai Japanese monk Shinran . Shin Buddhism is considered the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan .
Jōdo-shū ( 浄土宗 , The Pure Land School ) , also known as Jōdo Buddhism , is a branch of Pure Land Buddhism derived from the teachings of the Japanese ex-Tendai monk Hōnen . It was established in 1175 and is the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan , along with Jōdo Shinshū .
A pure land is the celestial realm or pure abode of a buddha or bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism . The term pure land is particular to East Asian Buddhism ( Chinese : 淨土 ; pinyin : Jìngtǔ ) and related traditions ; in Sanskrit the equivalent concept is called a buddha-field ( Sanskrit buddhakṣetra ) . The various traditions that focus on pure lands have been given the nomenclature Pure Land Buddhism . Pure lands are also evident in the literature and traditions of Taoism and Bon .
Jōdo Shinshū ( 浄土真宗 , The True Essence of the Pure Land Teaching ) , also known as Shin Buddhism or True Pure Land Buddhism , is a school of Pure Land Buddhism . It was founded by the former Tendai Japanese monk Shinran . Shin Buddhism is considered the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan .
Zazen ( literally seated meditation ; Japanese : 座禅 ; simplified Chinese : 坐禅 ; traditional Chinese : 坐禪 ; pinyin : zuò chán ; Wade-Giles : tso4-ch'an2 , pronounced [ tswô ʈʂʰǎn ] ) is a meditative discipline that is typically the primary practice of the Zen Buddhist tradition . The precise meaning and method of zazen varies from school to school , but in general it can be regarded as a means of insight into the nature of existence . In the Japanese Rinzai school , zazen is usually associated with the study of koans . The Sōtō School of Japan , on the other hand , only rarely incorporates koans into zazen , preferring an approach where the mind has no object at all , known as shikantaza .
Dōgen Zenji ( 道元禅師 ; 19 January 1200 - 22 September 1253 ) , also known as Dōgen Kigen ( 道元希玄 ) , Eihei Dōgen ( 永平道元 ) , Kōso Jōyō Daishi ( 高祖承陽大師 ) , or Busshō Dentō Kokushi ( 仏性伝東国師 ) , was a Japanese Buddhist priest , writer , poet , philosopher , and founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan . Originally ordained as a monk in the Tendai School in Kyoto , he was ultimately dissatisfied with its teaching and traveled to China to seek out what he believed to be a more authentic Buddhism . He remained there for five years , finally training under Tiantong Rujing , an eminent teacher of the Chinese Caodong lineage . Upon his return to Japan , he began promoting the practice of zazen ( sitting meditation ) through literary works such as Fukan zazengi and Bendōwa . He eventually broke relations completely with the powerful Tendai School , and , after several years of likely friction between himself and the establishment , left Kyoto for the mountainous countryside where he founded the monastery Eihei-ji , which remains the head temple of the Sōtō school today . Dōgen is known for his extensive writing including his most famous work , the collection of 95 essays called the Shōbōgenzō , but also Eihei Kōroku , a collection of his talks , poetry , and commentaries , and Eihei Shingi , the first Zen monastic code written in Japan , among others .
Eihei-ji ( 永平寺 ) is one of two main temples of the Sōtō school of Zen Buddhism , the largest single religious denomination in Japan ( by number of temples in a single legal entity ) . Eihei-ji is located about 15 km ( 9 mi ) east of Fukui in Fukui Prefecture , Japan . In English , its name means temple of eternal peace ( in Japanese , 'ei ' means eternal , 'hei ' means peaceful , and 'ji ' means Buddhist temple ) . Its founder was Eihei Dōgen who brought Sōtō Zen from China to Japan during the 13th century . The ashes of Dōgen and a memorial to him are in the Jōyōden ( the Founder 's Hall ) at Eihei-ji . William Bodiford of UCLA writes that , The rural monastery Eiheiji in particular aggrandized Dōgen to bolster its own authority vis-à-vis its institutional rivals within the Sōtō denomination . Eihei-ji is a training monastery with more than two hundred monks and nuns in residence . As of 2003 , Eihei-ji had 800,000 visitors per year , less than half the number of tourists who came ten years before . Visitors with Zen experience may participate after making prior arrangements and all visitors are treated as religious trainees . In keeping with Zen 's Mahayana tradition , the iconography in various buildings is an array of potential confusion for newcomers : at the Sanmon are four kings standing guard named Shitenno ; the Buddha hall 's main altar has three statues of Buddhas past , present and future ; the Hatto displays Kannon the bodhisattva of compassion , and four white lions ( called the a-un no shishi ) ; the Yokushitsu has Baddabara ; the Sanshokaku has a statue of Hotei ; and the Tosu displays Ucchusma .
Eiheiji ( 永平寺町 , Eiheiji-chō ) is a city located in Fukui Prefecture , Japan . As of 1 March 2018 [ update ] , the town had an estimated population of 18,746 in 6,262 households and the population density of 200 persons per km² . The total area of the town was 94.43 square kilometres ( 36.46 sq mi ) . The town is named for the famous temple of Eihei-ji .
Fukui Prefecture ( 福井県 , Fukui-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū . Fukui Prefecture has a population of 778,943 ( 1 June 2017 ) and has a geographic area of 4,190 km² ( 1,617 sq mi ) . Fukui Prefecture borders Ishikawa Prefecture to the north , Gifu Prefecture to the east , Shiga Prefecture to the south , and Kyoto Prefecture to the southwest . Fukui is the capital and largest city of Fukui Prefecture , with other major cities including Sakai , Echizen , and Sabae . Fukui Prefecture is located on the Sea of Japan coast and is part of the historic Hokuriku region of Japan . The Matsudaira clan , a powerful samurai clan during the Edo period that became a component of the Japanese nobility after the Meiji Restoration , was headquartered at Fukui Castle on the site of the modern prefectural offices . Fukui Prefecture is home to the Kitadani Formation , the Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins , and the Tōjinbō cliff range .