nntsuzu/KFTT huggingface dataset:
English: It is also known from records and excavations that there was a temple called Kozen-do or Kozenyakushi-ji Temple built at the wish of Empress Komyo on Mt. Kasuga situated to the east of Shinyakushi-ji Temple.
Japanese: また、新薬師寺の東方、春日山の山中にはやはり光明皇后の発願になる香山堂（こうぜんどう）または香山薬師寺と呼ばれる寺院が存在したことが記録や発掘調査から知られている。
English: It is said that the Kozen-do Temple was the predecessor of Shinyakushi-ji Temple and was later combined with Shinyakushi-ji Temple at the foot of a mountain.
Japanese: この香山堂が新薬師寺の前身で、後に山麓の新薬師寺と合併したともいう。
English: Regarding Kozen-do Temple, ruins of the temple were confirmed by an excavation of the site on the mountain ridge near the source of Saho-gawa River in 1966, and tiles which date back to the time of the construction of the Great Buddha of Todai-ji Temple were unearthed there.
Japanese: 香山堂については、1966年の発掘で佐保川の水源地付近の尾根上に寺院跡が確認され、東大寺大仏造立にさかのぼる時期の瓦が出土している。
English: In a pictorial diagram called 'Todaiji Sankai Shii-zu (painting of mountain border of four path to Todai-ji Temple)' dated 756, both 'Shinyakushi-ji Temple' and 'Kozen-do Temple' were specified, therefore, their coexistence at that time is apparent.
Japanese: 天平勝宝8歳（756年）の記がある「東大寺山堺四至図」（とうだいじさんかいしいしず、正倉院宝物）という絵図には「新薬師寺」と「香山堂」の両方が明記されており、この頃には両寺が並存していたことが明らかである。
English: In 2008, excavation was carried out before remodeling the buildings of Nara University of Education, and ruins of a large structure which seems to be the Kon-do (golden hall) of Shinyakushi-ji Temple were discovered on the grounds.
Japanese: 2008年、奈良教育大学の校舎改築に伴う発掘調査が行われ、同大学構内で新薬師寺金堂跡とみられる大型建物跡が検出された。
English: According to the announcement made by Nara University of Education on October, 23 of the same year, the ruins of the structure had a stylobate estimated to be fifty-four meters wide and twenty-seven meters long, and platy tuff which apparently comprised the stylobate and structural remnants of spreading stones which apparently supported the cornerstones of the pillars, were unearthed as well.
Japanese: 同年10月23日の奈良教育大学の発表によると、検出された建物跡は基壇の規模が正面54メートル、奥行27メートルと推定され、基壇を構成していたと思われる板状の凝灰岩や、柱の礎石を支えていたとみられる、石を敷き詰めた遺構などが出土した。
English: The site is situated about 150 meters west of the present Shinyakushi-ji Temple, and is estimated to be the structural remnants corresponding to the Yakushi-do Hall of Seven Buddhas of Healing written in the above mentioned 'Todaiji Sankai Shii-zu'.
Japanese: 当地は現・新薬師寺の西約150メートルに位置し、上述の「東大寺山堺四至図」にある新薬師寺の七仏薬師堂に相当する建物跡と推定されている。
English: At the time of the foundation, Shinyakushi-ji was a large temple with seven major structures including Kon-do Hall and the East and the West Towers standing side by side on the compound.
Japanese: 創建時の新薬師寺は金堂、東西両塔などの七堂伽藍が建ち並ぶ大寺院であったが、次第に衰退した。
English: "Shoku Nihongi" (Chronicles of Japan Continued) said that the West Tower was burnt down by lightning in 780 and several temples were also destroyed in the spreading fire.
Japanese: 『続日本紀』によれば宝亀11年（780年）の落雷で西塔が焼失し、いくつかの堂宇が延焼している。
English: According to "Nihongi Ryaku" (Summary of Japanese Chronologies) and "Todaiji Yoroku" (The Digest Record of Todai-ji Temple), main buildings including the Kon-do Hall were destroyed by a typhoon in 962.
Japanese: また、『日本紀略』『東大寺要録』によれば、応和2年（962年）台風で金堂以下の主要堂宇が倒壊し
English: The present Main Hall was built during the Nara period, but it is not the original Kon-do Hall, but one converted from another one.
Japanese: 現在の本堂は奈良時代の建築だが、本来の金堂ではなく、他の堂を転用したものである。
English: It is believed that the principal image, Yakushi Nyorai-zo does not date back to the time of foundation judging from the style and technique, but was made around the end of the eighth century.
Japanese: 本尊の薬師如来像も様式・技法上、創建時まではさかのぼらず、8世紀末頃の制作と見られている。
English: A wartime fire caused by TAIRA no Shigehira burnt down main buildings of Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji Temples in 1180, but Shinyakushi-ji Temple escaped the fire.
Japanese: 治承4年（1180年）の平重衡の兵火で、東大寺、興福寺は主要伽藍を焼失したが、新薬師寺は焼け残った。
English: During the Kamakura period, Myoe, the restorer of the Kegon sect of Buddhism, temporarily entered the temple and tried to restore it.
Japanese: 鎌倉時代には華厳宗中興の祖である明恵（みょうえ）が一時入寺し、復興に努めた。
English: There are seven hashirama (spaces between two pillars) and three out of the seven were designed for the entrance, and two hashirama left on both sides have no windows, which makes the white walls seem larger.
Japanese: 正面は柱間7間のうち中央3間を戸口とし、その左右各2間には窓を設けず白壁を大きく見せた意匠とする。
English: Inside the hall, the floor is earthen and structural materials such as taruki (the simplest type of rafter extended from the ridge to the end of, or beyond the eave) are visible because no ceiling has been installed, and this is called 'Kesho-yaneura.'
Japanese: 内部は土間で、天井を張らず、垂木などの構造材をそのまま見せる「化粧屋根裏」となっている。
English: The round-shaped plastered Buddhist alter is placed at the center of the hall, and the principal image of Buddha, Yakushi Nyorai-zo is enshrined at the center of the altar, and Juni Shinsho-zo (the statues of twelve protective deities) stand around the Yakushi Nyorai-zo facing outward.
Japanese: 堂内中央には円形漆喰塗りの仏壇を築き、中央に本尊薬師如来像を安置、これを囲んで十二神将像が外向きに立つ。
English: This building is not the original Kon-do hall but one converted from another one (it was a dining room according to a theory), but it is still valuable as one of few existing structures built during the Nara period.
Japanese: この建物は創建当初の金堂ではなく、他の建物を転用したものではあるが（食堂であったという説がある）、遺構の少ない奈良時代の建造物として貴重である。
English: There are the South Gate, the East Gate, Jizo-do Hall and Shoro (bell tower) (each one of them is designated as an important cultural asset.
Japanese: その他、鎌倉時代に建てられた南門、東門、地蔵堂、鐘楼（各重文）がある。
English: It is generally believed that the temple does not date back to the time of the foundation judging from the style and technique and was built around the end of the eighth century.
Japanese: 様式・技法上、当寺の創建期まではさかのぼらず、8世紀末頃の作と見るのが通説である。
English: It is made of raw wood with no coloring or gilding except black ink-colored eyebrows, pupils, mustache and beard and red-colored lips.
Japanese: 眉、瞳、髭などに墨、唇に朱を差すほかは彩色や金箔を施さない素木仕上げとする。
English: It is characterized by larger eyes not seen in those of ordinary images of Buddha, and the size of the eyes might be related to the legend that 'Emperor Shomu prayed for the recovery of the Empress Komyo from an eye disease.'
Japanese: 一般の仏像に比べ眼が大きいのが特徴で、「聖武天皇が光明皇后の眼病平癒を祈願して」云々の伝承も、この像の眼の大きさと関連するかもしれない。
English: Eight volumes of the Hokke-kyo Sutra were discovered during research in 1975 and were designated as 'tsuketari' (attachments, appurtenances) of a national treasure.
Japanese: 1975年の調査の際、像内から平安時代初期と見られる法華経8巻が発見され、国宝の「附（つけたり）」として指定されている。
English: There are six Kebutsu (the Artificial Buddha) arranged in the halo, and with the principal image, there are seven images in total, which might come from the legend of Shichibutsu yakushi zo (statue of Seven Buddhas of healing).
Japanese: 光背には６体の化仏が配されていて本体と合わせると７体となり、七仏薬師の伝承から由来したという説もある。
English: And the halo has decorations believed to be the leaves of a plant called Acanthus that comes from the Silk Road.
Japanese: また、光背の装飾にはシルクロード由来のアカンサスという植物の葉と考えられている装飾がある。
English: Although the reasons behind making the images are not necessarily clear, they are believed to have been made in the Tenpyo era judging from their styles and the fact the word 'Tenpyo' written in black ink was found on the pedestal of one of twelve images.
Japanese: 造立の事情は必ずしも明らかでないが、作風や、12躯のうち1躯の台座から「天平」の墨書が見出されたことなどから、天平期の作と見なされている。
English: Compared with the Shitenno-zo (Image of the four guardian kings) of Todai-ji Kaidan-in, which is known as a masterpiece of molding, they are formed with a little emphasis on formality including kacchu (armor); therefore, they are believed to have been made later in the period than the images of Todai-ji Temple.
Japanese: 同じ塑造の傑作として知られる東大寺戒壇院の四天王像の造形と比較すると、甲冑など、やや形式を重視した形で造形されており、東大寺像よりも時代が少し下ると見られている。
English: Among the twelve, only one image (called Haira Taisho (the Captain of Haira) in the temple legend and designated as a national treasure under the name of Kubira Taisho) was destroyed by an earthquake at the end of the Edo period.
Japanese: 12躯のうち、1躯（寺伝では波夷羅（はいら）大将、国宝指定名称は宮比羅（くびら）大将）のみは江戸時代末期の地震で倒壊した。
English: The image standing next to the principal image on the observers' right (the Captain of Basara in the temple legend, but is designated as a national treasure under the name of Captain of Mekira) is well known and the terrible countenance is often used in posters promoting Nara tourism.
Japanese: 本尊に向かってすぐ右に立つ像（寺伝では伐折羅（ばさら）大将、国宝指定名称は迷企羅（めきら）大将）はよく知られ、その忿怒の表情は、奈良観光のポスターなどによく使用されている。
English: This is a gilt bronze statue of Buddha commonly called 'Koyakushi,' but it was stolen in 1943 and is still missing.
Japanese: －通称「香薬師」と呼ばれる奈良時代の金銅仏だが、1943年に盗難に遭って行方不明。
English: One of two statues of the Goddess of Kannon once enshrined as 'Statues of Nikko and Gakko Bosatsu' on the left and the right of the principal image of Yakushi Nyorai.
Japanese: かつて本尊薬師如来像の左右に「日光・月光菩薩像」として安置されていた2躯の観音像のうちの1躯。
English: One of two statues of the Goddess of Kannon once enshrined as 'Statues of Nikko and Gakko Bosatsu') on the left and the right of the principal image of Yakushi Nyorai.
Japanese: かつて本尊薬師如来像の左右に「日光・月光菩薩像」として安置されていた2躯の観音像のうちの1躯。
English: After the Second World War, it left the temple and is now in a private collection (on display at the Nara National Museum).
Japanese: －第二次世界大戦後、寺を離れ個人蔵（奈良国立博物館寄託）となっている。
English: 13 minutes by City Loop Bus from JR Nara Station/Kintetsu Nara Station to 'Takabatake-cho,' and 10 minutes walk from the stop.
Japanese: JR奈良駅・近鉄奈良駅から市内循環バスで13分、「高畑町」下車、徒歩10分
English: It is known as a monzeki temple (a prestigious temple whose chief priest is a member of the Imperial family etc.) as well as a temple associated with Empress Komyo,
Japanese: 光明皇后ゆかりの寺として、また門跡尼寺（皇族などが住職となる格式高い寺院）として知られる。
English: While Todai-ji Temple was the so-kokubun-ji Temple (head temple of Japan), Hokke-ji Temple was the so-kokubun-ni-ji Temple, and its exact name was Hokke metsuzai no tera.
Japanese: 東大寺が全国の総国分寺であったのに対し、法華寺は総国分尼寺であり、詳しくは法華滅罪之寺（ほっけめつざいのてら）といった。
English: At the place where Hokke-ji Temple is located now, there used to be a residence of Fujiwara no Fuhito, and after Fuhito died, his daughter Komyoshi, or Empress Komyo inherited it and used it as her residence.
Japanese: 法華寺の地にはもと藤原不比等の邸宅があり、不比等の没後、娘の光明子、すなわち光明皇后がこれを相続して皇后宮とした。
English: It was around 747, two year after that, when the temple was ranked as the provincial nunnery of Yamato Province and the head nunnery of Japan.
Japanese: 大和国の国分尼寺、日本の総国分尼寺と位置付けられるのは、2年後の天平19年（747年）頃からである。
English: Office of Hokke-ji Temple Construction, which administrated erection of Hokke-ji Temple, was abolished in 782, so it is assumed that the buildings of the temple was completed around that time.
Japanese: 法華寺造営のための役所であった造法華寺司は延暦元年（782年）に廃止されており、この頃には伽藍整備が完成していたと見られる。
English: Hokke-ji Temple in the Nara period was a large temple with both east and west pagodas, but after the transfer of the national capital to the city of Heian-kyo, it gradually declined and the record in the late Heian period shows that the temple almost came to ruin around that period.
Japanese: 奈良時代の法華寺は東西両塔をもつ大寺院であったが、平安京遷都以後は次第に衰微し、平安時代末期にはかなり荒廃していたことが当時の記録から伺える。
English: It is said that in 1180, Todai-ji temple and Kofuku-ji Temple went up in flames by the fire caused by the war of TAIRA no Shigehira, and Hokke-ji Temple was also damaged.
Japanese: 治承4年（1180年）の平重衡の兵火では東大寺、興福寺が炎上し、法華寺も被害を受けたという。
English: In the Kamakura period, a priest Chogen SHUNJOBO, who successfully restored the Great Buddha in Todai-ji Temple, restored temple buildings and Buddha statues of Hokke-ji Temple in 1203.
Japanese: 鎌倉時代に入り、東大寺大仏の再興を果たした僧・俊乗坊重源（しゅんじょうぼうちょうげん）は、建仁3年（1203年）、法華寺の堂宇や仏像を再興した。
English: The wooden Buddhist's head in Kamakura period style that remains in the Temple is assumed to be the head of Rushana Butsu, the principal image at the time of this restoration.
Japanese: 現在も寺に残る鎌倉時代様式の木造仏頭は、この再興時の本尊廬舎那仏（るしゃなぶつ）の頭部であると推定されている。
English: Furthermore, Priest Eison, who belonged to Shingon Risshu sect in the mid Kamakura period, fully restored the temple.
Japanese: さらに、鎌倉時代中期の真言律宗の僧・叡尊（えいそん）によって本格的な復興がなされた。
English: After that, buildings except the east pagoda were lost by fires caused by wars in 1499 and 1506 and by an earthquake in 1596.
Japanese: その後、明応8年（1499年）と永正3年（1506年）の兵火や慶長元年（1596年）の地震で東塔以外の建物を失った。
English: The current hondo (main hall), shoro (bell tower), and nanmon (south gate) were restored around 1601 by a bugyo (magistrate) Katsumoto KATAGIRI under the order of Hideyori TOYOTOMI and his mother Yodo-dono (Lady Yodo).
Japanese: 現在の本堂、鐘楼、南門は慶長6年（1601年）頃、豊臣秀頼と母の淀殿が片桐且元を奉行として復興したものである。
English: The east pagoda that survived fires and earthquake fell due to an earthquake in 1707.
Japanese: なお、兵火や地震の被害をまぬがれていた東塔は宝永4年（1707年）の地震で倒壊した。
English: Since the era of Eison, Hokke-ji temple had maintained its status as a monzeki temple of Shingon Risshu sect, but in 1999, it decided to return to an independent temple as it was at the time of foundation, and named itself 'Komyo sect' after Empress Komyo to secede and separate.
Japanese: 法華寺は叡尊の時代以来、真言律宗における門跡寺院としての寺格を保っていたが、平成11年（1999年）、創建当時のように独立した寺に戻ることとなり、光明皇后にちなんで「光明宗」と名づけ離脱・独立した。
English: Hondo (Important Cultural Property) - Restored by donation from Hideyori TOYOTOMI and Yodo-dono in 1601.
Japanese: 本堂（重要文化財）－慶長6年（1601年）、豊臣秀頼と淀殿の寄進で再建された。
English: Shoro (Important Cultural Property) - There is an inscription of 1601 on the Onigawara (Japanese gargoyle roof tile), and based on the style and detail of shoro, it is assumed to be restored in the Momoyama period.
Japanese: 鐘楼（重要文化財）－鬼瓦に慶長6年（1601年）の刻銘があり、鐘楼の形式や細部からみて桃山時代の再興と考えられる。
English: Nanmon (Important Cultural Property) - A four-legged gate with a gable roof with formal tiles that was restored when the hondo was restored.
Japanese: 南門（重要文化財）－切妻造・本瓦葺の四脚門で、本堂と同時に再建された。
English: Steam bath (significant tangible folk cultural asset) - A steam bath that has a legend that Empress Komyo herself washed grime of one thousand people, but the current building was built after the mid Edo period.
Japanese: から風呂（重要有形民俗文化財）－光明皇后が千人の垢を自ら流したという伝説のある蒸し風呂であるが、現存の建物は江戸時代中期以降のものである。
English: Yokobue-do Hall - It used to be located at the detached temple grounds on the left of outside of Akamon, but it was moved to the east side of Akamon.
Japanese: 横笛堂－かつて南門を出て左側の飛地境内にあったが、赤門の東側に移築されている。
English: They say that Yokobue, the heroine of the tale of tragic love known by "The Tale of the Heike" and 'Nyudo TAKIGUCHI' by Chogyu TAKAYAMA, lived in this building after becoming a nun.
Japanese: 『平家物語』や高山樗牛の「滝口入道」で知られる悲恋物語のヒロイン・横笛が尼となった後に住んだとされる建物。
English: There is a lore that Yokobue created her own shape using waste letter paper, and the papier-mache statue of Yokobue (about 30-centimeters high) used to be enshrined here, but it was moved to the hondo.
Japanese: 横笛が手紙の反故（ほご）で自らの姿を作ったという伝承のある張り子の横笛像（高さ約30センチ）が安置されていたが、本堂に移されている。
English: There is a lore that an Indian sculptor Mondoshi created it modeling after Empress Komyo, but actual period of creation is assumed to be the early Heian period.
Japanese: 「天竺（インド）の仏師・問答師が光明皇后の姿を模してつくった」という伝承をもつが、実際の制作は平安時代前期と見られる。
English: Except that its hair, pupils, and eyebrows etc. were painted black and the lips were painted red, and metal was used in some part of hair and accessories, it is finished with beautiful wood surface.
Japanese: 髪、瞳、眉などに黒、唇に朱を塗り、髪や装身具の一部に金属を用いるほかは、木肌の美しさを生かした素地仕上げとする。
English: Except for small portions including its hands that are created using different materials, it is Ichiboku-zukuri, whose major parts of the head and body are carved of one tree.
Japanese: 両手首から先など、ごく一部を別材とするほか、頭・体の主要部を一材から彫り出した一木造である。
English: It is supposed that the above mentioned lore was created because the appearance and overall figure of this statue have somehow feminine and exotic feeling.
Japanese: 本像の風貌や全体のプロポーションにはどこか女性的・異国的なものを感じさせることから、前述のような伝承を生んだものであろう。
English: It is assumed that it was not the original principal image, but it was made to be the principal image when the hondo was restored in the early modern time.
Japanese: 当初からの本尊ではなく、近世初頭に本堂が再興された際に本尊とされたものと考えられている。
English: The bathroom of Hokke-ji Temple has been consistently utilized by common people as a bathing facility since its erection at the wish of the Empress Komyo, which has a very rare style of the steam bath using medical herbs.
Japanese: 法華寺浴室は光明皇后様御発願以来一貫して一般庶民のために施浴施設として活用され続け、薬草を用いて蒸し風呂を炊くという、極めて珍しい形式の浴室です。
English: Recently, bathing memorial event for ascetic practices of balneum bath by heating a furnace in accordance with ancient ritual was restored.
Japanese: また、近年に古式に則り竃を炊いて、沐浴修行する施浴法要を復活しました。
English: Date of bathing memorial service: June 13 (Open to support members only. For membership, please contact Hokke-ji Temple).
Japanese: 施浴法要実施日6月13日（体験は信徒会員対象、入会は法華寺宛て問合せ下さい。）
English: You can enjoy lotus flowers in Hokke-ji Temple, drink with Zobihai, and a healing time in the temple.
Japanese: 法華寺蓮を愛で、象鼻盃をいただき、お寺で癒しのひと時を過ごしていただけます。
English: Near 'Hokke-ji' bus stop on Nara Kotsu Bus Lines Co., Ltd. (for Saidaiji Station or Japan Air Self-Defense Force) from Nara Station of JR Kansai Main Line and Kintetsu Nara Station
Japanese: JR関西本線奈良駅・近鉄奈良駅より奈良交通バス（西大寺駅・航空自衛隊行き）「法華寺」下車すぐ
English: Near 'Hokke-ji' bus stop on Nara Kotsu Bus Lines Co., Ltd. (for Nara Station, 白土町) from Yamato-Saidaiji Station of Kinki Nippon Railway Company
Japanese: 近畿日本鉄道大和西大寺駅より奈良交通バス（JR奈良駅・白土町行き）「法華寺」下車すぐ
English: Gango-ji Temple is a temple in Nara City, counted as one of Seven Great Temples of Nara.
Japanese: 元興寺（がんごうじ）は、奈良市にある、南都七大寺の1つに数えられる寺院。
English: The predecessor of this temple was Asuka-dera Temple, the oldest orthodox Buddhist temple in Japan, which was erected in Asuka (an ancient capital of Japan during the Asuka period [538-710]) by SOGA-no-Umako.
Japanese: 蘇我馬子が飛鳥に建立した、日本最古の本格的仏教寺院である飛鳥寺がその前身である。
English: Following the transfer of the national capital to the Heijo-kyo (an ancient capital of Japan in current Nara), Hoko-ji Temple was also transferred from Asuka to the new capital to become Gango-ji Temple (however, Hoko-ji Temple in Asuka remained in the original site to be today's Asuka-dera Temple).
Japanese: 法興寺は平城京遷都に伴って飛鳥から新都へ移転し、元興寺となった（ただし、飛鳥の法興寺も元の場所に残り、今日の飛鳥寺となっている）。
English: Gango-ji Temple in Chuin-cho, Nara City is registered in the list of World Heritage as a part of 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.'
Japanese: 奈良市中院町の元興寺は「古都奈良の文化財」の一部として、世界遺産にも登録されている。
English: As the above-mentioned two Gango-ji Temple separated from one temple, they are dealt with together in this section.
Japanese: 上記2つの元興寺は、もともと同じ寺院の一部であるので、本項ではまとめて述べることとする。
English: At present, the following three regions are designated as 'The Historic site, Gango-ji Temple': (1) 'Gango-ji Temple Gokuraku-bo' in Chuin-cho, Nara City, (2) 'Gango-ji Temple (remains of pagoda)' in Shibanoshinya-cho, Nara City, (3) 'Remains of Shoto-in Temple of Gango-ji Temple' in Nishinoshinya-cho, Nara-City.
Japanese: 現在、「史跡元興寺」として指定されている地域は（1）奈良市中院町の「元興寺極楽坊」、（2）同市芝新屋町の「元興寺（塔跡）」（3）同市西新屋町の「元興寺小塔院跡」の3か所である。
English: All of these regions formerly belonged to Hoko-ji Temple (now Asuka-dera Temple), the oldest orthodox Buddhist temple in Japan, erected in Asuka by SOGA-no-Umako in the end of the sixth century.
Japanese: これらはいずれも、蘇我馬子が6世紀末、飛鳥に建立した日本最古の本格的寺院、法興寺（現在の飛鳥寺）の後身である。
English: Following the transfer of the national capital to the Heijo-kyo in 710, Yakushi-ji Temple, Umaya-zaka-dera Temple (later Kofuku-ji Temple), Daikandai-ji Temple (later Daian-ji Temple), etc. were transferred to the new capital.
Japanese: 和銅3年（710年）の平城京遷都に伴って、飛鳥にあった薬師寺、厩坂寺（のちの興福寺）、大官大寺（のちの大安寺）などは新都へ移転した。
English: While Hoko-ji Temple was transferred to the Heijo-kyo in 718, Hoko-ji Temple in Asuka was left at the original site without being abolished.
Japanese: 法興寺は養老2年（718年）平城京へ移転したが、飛鳥の法興寺も廃止はされずに元の場所に残った。
English: Generally, the temple in Asuka is referred to as 'Hoko-ji Temple,' while that in the Heijo-kyo is referred to as 'Gango-ji Temple.'
Japanese: 通常、飛鳥にある寺を「法興寺」、平城京の方の寺を「元興寺」と称している。
English: Both terms of 'Hoko' and 'Gango' provide the temples with the meaning of the first temple in Japan where Buddhism thrived.
Japanese: 「法興」も「元興」も、日本で最初に仏法が興隆した寺院であるとの意である。
English: Gango-ji Temple in the Nara period prospered as a Dojo (place of Buddhist practice or meditation) of the Sanron sect and the Hosso sect, boasting a gigantic scale of temple buildings and site comparable with Todai-ji Temple and Kofuku-ji Temple.
Japanese: 奈良時代の元興寺は三論宗と法相宗の道場として栄え、東大寺や興福寺と並ぶ大伽藍を誇っていた。
English: The temple site was long and slender in the north and south direction with about 440 meters in north and south and about 220 meters in east and west.
Japanese: 寺域は南北4町（約440メートル）、東西2町（約220メートル）と南北に細長かった。
English: The south of Sarusawa-ike Pond located in the south of Kofuku-ji Temple, most of the area called 'Nara-machi' today, was originally included in the precincts of Gango-ji Temple.
Japanese: 興福寺の南にある猿沢池の南方、今日「ならまち（ならまち）」と通称される地区の大部分が元は元興寺の境内であった。
English: The southeast area of Sarusawa-ike Pond where the police station is located corresponds to the northeastern end of the old precincts, while the area where Nara City Onjo-Kan Hall (Narukawa-cho, Nara City) is located corresponds to the southwestern end of the precincts.
Japanese: 猿沢池南東側にある交番のあたりが旧境内の北東端、奈良市音声館（奈良市鳴川町）のあたりが旧境内の南西端にあたる。
English: In contrast to Todai-ji Temple and Kofuku-ji Temple that increased in influence in Nara, Gango-ji Temple gradually declined around the late Heian period.
Japanese: 奈良においては東大寺、興福寺が勢力を増す一方で、元興寺は平安時代後半あたりから徐々に衰退していった。
English: According to 'Dosha Sonshoku Kenroku Cho' (the record of damages of the temple), a historical material compiled in the early 11th century, temple buildings of Gango-ji Temple including Kon-do Hall (main hall of a Buddhist temple) were so ruined in those days that they appeared miserable.
Japanese: 11世紀前半の「堂舎損色検録帳」という史料によると、金堂をはじめとする元興寺の伽藍は、この頃には荒れ果てて見る影もなかったという。
English: There was an Amida Jodozu (illustration of the Pure Land of Amida, also called Chiko Mandala) in Gango-ji Temple that was produced under the instruction of a scholar priest, Chiko, in the Nara period
Japanese: 元興寺には奈良時代の学僧・智光が描かせた阿弥陀浄土図（智光曼荼羅）があった。
English: This Mandala became popular in line with the spread of Mappo-shiso (the "end of the world" belief) in the end of the Heian period as well as the boom of worshiping Amida Buddha.
Japanese: 平安末期の末法思想の流行や阿弥陀信仰の隆盛とともにこの曼荼羅が信仰を集めるようになった。
English: The hall enshrining the Mandala was called 'Gokuraku-bo,' which gradually developed as a different temple from the original Gango-ji Temple.
Japanese: 曼荼羅を祀る堂は「極楽坊」と呼ばれて、次第に元興寺本体とは別の寺院として発展するようになった。
English: The existing Hon-do Hall (main hall) and Zen-shitsu Room (room for Zen sitting meditation) of Gango-ji Temple Gokuraku-bo were originally priests' living quarters where priests including Chiko lived in the Nara period, which were reconstructed in the Kamakura period.
Japanese: 現存する元興寺極楽坊の本堂と禅室は、奈良時代に智光をはじめとする僧たちが住んでいた僧房を鎌倉時代に改築したものである。
English: Getting a by-blow of a peasants' uprising in 1451 during the Muromachi period, Gango-ji Temple went up in flames.
Japanese: 室町時代の宝徳3年（1451年）、土一揆のあおりで元興寺は炎上した。
English: While the Five-Storied Pagoda (called Goju-no-To) and other structures narrowly escaped the fire, main temple buildings such as the Kon-do Hall and the original illustration of Chiko Mandala were burned down.
Japanese: 五重塔などはかろうじて残ったが、金堂など主要堂宇や智光曼荼羅の原本は焼けてしまった。
English: Around those days, the temple was divided into three temples: 'Gokuraku-in Temple' enshrining Chiko Mandala, 'Gango-ji Temple Kannon-do Hall (a temple dedicated to Kannon)' developing around the Five-Storied Pagoda, and 'Shoto-in Temple.'
Japanese: この頃を境に、寺は智光曼荼羅を祀る「極楽院」、五重塔を中心とする「元興寺観音堂」、それに「小塔院」の3つの寺院に分裂した。
English: The temple flourished as a temple for folk religion such as Chiko Mandala, Kobo Daishi (a posthumous title of the priest Kukai), Prince Shotoku after the Medieval period.
Japanese: 中世以降は智光曼荼羅、弘法大師、聖徳太子などの民間信仰の寺院として栄えた。
English: On the other hand, 'Gango-ji Temple Kannon-do Hall' located in the south of Gokuraku-in Temple became a branch temple of Todai-ji Temple, which developed around the Five-Storied Pagoda.
Japanese: 一方、極楽院の南にある「元興寺観音堂」の方は東大寺の末寺となり、五重塔を中心とする寺院であった。
English: The Five-Storied Pagoda and Kannon-do Hall, remains of the original Gango-ji Temple, which had escaped the fire broke out in the Muromachi period, were finally burned down in 1859 in the end of the Edo period.
Japanese: 室町時代の火災に焼け残った創建遺構の五重塔と観音堂は、江戸時代末期の安政6年（1859年）についに焼失した。