Nigatsu-dō

Nigatsu-dō (二月堂)

The stairs leading to Nigatsu-dō Hall

Nigatsu-dō (Japanese: 二月堂 lit. 'The Hall of the Second Month') is one of the important structures of Tōdai-ji, a temple in Nara, Japan. Nigatsu-dō is located to the east of the Great Buddha Hall, on the hillside of Mount Wakakusa. It includes several other buildings in addition to the specific hall named Nigatsu-dō, thus comprising its own sub-complex within Tōdai-ji.[1]

History

Nigatsu-dō was founded by a monk by the name of Sanetada in 752, but the Buddhist monk Jitchu, a pupil of Rōben, later introduced a repentance service dedicated to the image of the eleven-faced Bodhisattva, Kannon in 760. It has taken place as an annual rite since 760 without any break. The service has come to be known as Shuni-e (修二会 lit. 'Second-Month Service'), as it was held in the second month of the traditional lunisolar calendar. At present, it starts on 1 March and ends on the 15th of the month.[2] Omizutori, which means taking sacred water, has become the popular name of the ceremony.

While the first Shuni-e service is said to have been held by Jichu in another temple in 752, the original construction of Nigatsu-dō hall is estimated to have completed only somewhere between 756 and 772. Nigatsu-dō was destroyed in 1667 due to a fire.[3]

• 1667 (Kanbun 7): After fire destroyed the main temple structure, work on rebuilding Nigatsu-dō (二月堂) at Nara commenced.[4]

Re-construction of Nigatsu-do is completed in 1669. In 1944, it was chosen by Japan as one of the most important cultural aspects of the country.[3]

Architecture

Although the hall was saved from civil wars in 1180 and 1567 in which the Great Buddha Hall was lost, it was burnt down during the Shuni-e service of 1667. The hall was rebuilt two years later.

The current main hall of Nigatsu-dō is a designated National Treasure. The hall holds two Kannons, a large one and a small one, although both of them are classified as Hibutsu (秘仏) – "secret Buddhas" – and therefore are not publicly shown.

Panorama over Nigatsu-dō grounds and Nara City

Gallery

• 
  The east entrance to Nigatsu-dō Hall
• 
  Wooden stair entrance to Nigatsu-dō
• 
  Nigatsu-dō winter maintenance work
• 
  View from the balcony of Nigatsu-dō

See also

• Omizutori, the climax of Shuni-e service which takes place on 12 March every year

Notes

1. "Origin of Omizutori". Gyohomiso. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
2. Vrik Narayama. "Shuni-e (Ceremony of the Second Month)". Retrieved 19 October 2008.
3. Nigatsu-do Hall.^[permanent dead link‍]
4. Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 414.

References

Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 251800045; see also Imprimerie Royale de France, OCLC 311322353

34°41′21″N 135°50′39″E