Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage

Outline of "Hiraizumi's cultural heritage"

The Value of Hiraizumi’s Cultural World Heritage

Hiraizumi originated during 12th century Japan in northern Honshu, and was a political and government constructed with the aim of realizing an ideal world based on Buddhism.
　Properties that constitute the Buddhist / Jodo garden have unique characteristics that were brought from mainland China to the easternmost part of the Japanese archipelago from between the 6th and 12th centuries. Through this process Buddhism developed into a branch with unique characteristics that coalesced with the philosophy of worshiping nature intrinsic to Japan. Among them, this is a unique example created aiming for a special expression of the Buddhist Land (Jodo) in this world, based on the ideals of Jodo, mainly from the Buddhist Paradise Faith of Amitabha, who prospered while approaching the latter days.
　Along with the introduction and diffusion of Buddhism, including Jodo ideals, the exchange of values that had an important influence are shown in the development of architecture and gardens in the temples. They are outstanding models that show important stages in human history in the fields of architecture and gardening, including not only those that remain above ground, but also the ruins that remain underground.
　In addition, the Jodo ideals that were the source for the creation of these kinds of architecture and gardens and brought about the views of life and death based on this work and the afterlife were definitely passed down to Hiraizumi religious ceremonies and folk arts today.

Hiraizumi and the Buddhist Land (Jodo)

　The Buddhist Land refers to the Land of Buddha and the World of Buddha, and also refers to the country built by Bodhisattva’s vows and training. It is easy to think that Jodo refers to Amitabha Nyorai’s paradise, but in East Asian Buddhism, The world of Buddhist enlightenment of absolute eternity, the worlds of the high and low ranking Bodhisattva, and the world in which both the unenlightened persons and saints live together exist as one. It is regarded that all of them can become a peaceful Buddist Land (Jodo).
　In particular, it is understood that Japan’s distinct Buddhism developed from between the 6th and 12th centuries can bring about the Buddhist Land (Jodo), which is the ultimate idealistic Buddhist world in this life.
　Hiraizumi’s architecture, gardens and archaeological sites represent the Buddhism that has developed into a branch with unique characteristics that coalesced with the philosophy of worshiping nature intrinsic to Japan. This is a unique example created aiming for a special expression of the Buddhist Land (Jodo) in this world, based on the ideals of Jodo, mainly from the Buddhist Paradise Faith of Amitabha, who prospered while approaching the latter days.