Story-Composing Cultural Assets Bonsho Bell
Kanzeon-ji Temple Bonsho Bell
This is the oldest bell in Japan, belonging to the bell tower of Kanzeonji Temple. This is the very bell that Sugawara-no-Michizane wrote about in a Chinese-style poem titled “Mon wo Idezu.”
It is still used today, and rings as clearly as it did in ancient times.
(This temple bell is currently on display at the Kyushu National Museum)
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Kanzeon-ji Temple
Empress Saimei headed to Baekje (One of the three kingdoms of ancient Korea which ceased to exist in the year 660) to restore it. However, she died in Tsukushi (Fukuoka) in the year 661.
Kanzeon-ji Temple was built on the wish of her son, Emperor Tenji in memory of her. It took about 80 years to complete and held a memorial service for the finished Garan (a complex of temple buildings) in the year 746. In 761, “Kaidan-in” was also built for delivering the commandments of Buddhism.
Kanzeon-ji Temple was called “Fu-no-odera (A Large Temple of the Province)” and it was the top Buddhism temple in Kyushu.
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【National Treasure】
This is the oldest bell in Japan, belonging tothe bell tower of Kanzeonji Temple. This is the very bell that Sugawara no Michizane wrote about in a Chinese-style poem titled “Mon wo Idezu”. It is still used today, and rings as clearly as it did in ancient times.