Honna Temple

Honna Temple [坎上方; ほんな・ほら] is a Kiren temple located in the southern district of the city of Honna in Heisai Prefecture. It is situated beside a cluster of hills known collectively as Mount Shihorami, and is mainly dedicated to the sun goddess Kasshingami. Along with a worship hall, performance hall, and reception area, Honna Temple also includes a magnolia garden complete with fountains at the back of the building. The building was originally constructed in 1584, but has undergone many changes and renovations.
Honna Temple was founded on the western bank of the Ōmizu River during the Koben administration, which was a time of renewed growth for Kanton as a whole. The upperclass was expanding, mostly with rich merchants, and in their growing numbers they began to require separate temples, residences and leisure areas from which the peasantry were excluded. Honna Temple was one such establishment, which explains its relatively lavish decoration, abundance of figures and statues, and its grand scale. It is said that the building was once much larger, spreading across most of the Shihorami hills and including a large monastry for monks, priests and nobles.
Category:Temples