Kofuku-ji Nan'en-do (South Octagonal Hall)
奈良県
Ninth temple of the Saigoku 33 — octagonal Fujiwara prayer hall built in 813 by Fuyutsugu, enshrining a National-Treasure Fukukenjaku Kannon by Kokei (father of Unkei)
Founded
813
Type
Temple
Visited
Want to go
Access
5 min on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station; 15 min from JR Nara Station
48 Noborioji-cho, Nara City, Nara
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Info
Temple
Founded 813
1213 years
Enshrined Deity
Founder
Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu
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Buddhist Sect
Hosso sect (head temple)
Overview
The Nan'en-do (South Octagonal Hall) of Kofuku-ji is the ninth temple of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage. Kofuku-ji originated in 669 as Yamashina-dera, founded by the wife of Fujiwara no Kamatari, and was relocated to Nara by Fujiwara no Fuhito with the move of the capital to Heijo-kyo in 710 — becoming the clan temple of the Fujiwara. The Nan'en-do was built in 813 by Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu, fou…
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Origins
Kofuku-ji originated in 669 as Yamashina-dera, founded by Kagami no Okimi, the wife of Fujiwara no Kamatari, who prayed for her husband's recovery. With the move of the capital to Heijo-kyo in 710, Fujiwara no Fuhito relocated the temple to Nara and renamed it Kofuku-ji. As the clan temple of the po…
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Pilgrimage Circuit
A pilgrimage of 33 Kannon temples — the oldest Kannon circuit in Japan, winding through 6 prefectures in the Kinki region and Gifu
不
About Fukūkenjaku Kannon
Seated Fukūkenjaku Kannon (Hōrenji, Kagawa, Important Cultural Property)
Fukūkenjaku Kannon (Unerring-Lasso Kannon): holds a lasso that catches every being without exception. Famously enshrined at Tōdai-ji Nigatsudō and Kōfuku-ji Nan-endō in Nara.
Kannon Forms · Seven Kannon
聖
Shō
十
Jūichimen
千
Senju
如
Nyoirin
馬
Batō
准
Juntei
不
Fukūkenjaku
View all 33 sites of Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage →
Your Pilgrimage
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Divine Benefits
Healing & Longevity
Matchmaking
Safe Childbirth & Fertility
Warding Off Evil
Recovery from illness, bodily wellness, peace of mind. Especially efficacious at Yakushi and Kannon temples.
Derived from the enshrined deity "不空羂索観音坐像（国宝）"
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Founded in 718 by Tokudo Shonin and revived by Emperor Kazan, the Saigoku 33 is Japan's oldest Kannon pilgrimage spanning 1,000 km across seven prefectures. From Seiganto-ji to Kegon-ji, this guide covers history, highlights, and practical visiting tips.
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