Myōtsū-ji

Myōtsū-ji (明通寺) is a Shingon-sect Buddhist temple in the city of Obama, Fukui Prefecture, Japan.

History
The foundation of Myōtsū-ji is uncertain. Per temple records dated 1374, the temple was founded by the famous general Sakanoue no Tamuramaro in 806. Two of the structures of the temple date to the Kamakura period: the Hondō and the three-storey pagoda and both are designated National Treasures. A number of Heian-period statues within these buildings are designated Important Cultural Properties. The temple also has a garden with a pond.

Buildings

 * Hondō (1258) (NT), also referred to as the Yakushi-dō (薬師堂) has a floor plan of 14.09 m × 14.82 m. The building has a hipped roof with a distinctive roof beam and is covered with cypress bark shingles (檜 皮 葺, Hiwada-buki). It was restored in 1923.
 * Three-storey pagoda (1270) (NT), with a total height of 22.13 meters is also covered with cypress bark shingles. It was restored in 1958.
 * Sanmon (1772) is an Obama City Cultural Property (C.ICP), and contains statues of the Kongōrikishi which are dated 1264, and which are also Obama C.ICPs.
 * Shōrō

Treasures

 * Seated wooden statue of Yakushi Nyorai (Heian period) (Important Cultural Property), Gohonzon
 * Standing wooden statue of Gōzanze Myōō (Heian period) (ICP)
 * Standing wooden statue of Fudō Myōō (Heian period) (ICP)
 * Standing wooden statue of Jinja Daishō (Heian period) (ICP)
 * Kenponchakushoku Hikohohodemi-no-mikoto emaki, 6 scrolls (Edo period) (Prefectural Cultural Property)
 * 399 donor plaques dating from 1309 to 1694 (Prefectural Cultural Property)