David Esteban
Famous old temple
Yakushi-ji is one of the most famous and oldest Japanese Buddhist temples, and the ancient base of the Hosso Buddhist school. Its main deity, hence its name, is "Yakushi Nyorai" (an image of Buddha as a healer of disease) who, at the end of the seventh century, was one of the first Buddhist deities to go to Japan from China. Its construction dates from the end of that century and was ordered by Emperor Tenmu who, in person, asked about the health of his queen consort. Unfortunately the today's temple is a mix of reconstructions that have cast over the story - different parts of the original temple have at different times been victim to fires and wars.
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