page_title: Nishi Hongan-ji
section_title: Architecture
hierarchical_section_title: Nishi Hongan-ji / Architecture
caption_attribution_description: English: Hongan-ji National Treasure World heritage Kyoto 国宝・世界遺産 本願寺 京都
context_page_description: Nishi Hongan-ji 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, the Flying Cloud Pavilion, shoin and the Black study hall, including the Denrō gallery and the north Noh stage.
  Nishi Hongan-ji was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
context_section_description: Nishi Hongan-ji occupies almost an entire rectangular area bounded by Hanayachō-dōri (Hanayachō Street) to the north, Horikawa-dōri (Horikawa Street) to the east, Shichijō-dōri (Shichijō Street) to the south, and Shichijō-dōri (Omiya Street) to the west. The main entrance to Nishi Hongan-ji is to the east on Horikawa-dōri. As the name of the temple implies, it is located to the west of Higashi Hongan-ji. Nishi Hongan-ji is older than the latter and has a more integral architecture.
caption: detail of the door, front view
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