🌿🍃 Shitennoji, Osaka (1)🌸🌺

Shitennoji, the first official Buddhist temple in Japan, was originally built by Prince Shotoku. 🌿🍃 • The temple is named after the Four Heavenly Kings in Buddhism—“Earth-Holder,” 🌿🍃 “Growth,” “Wide-Eyed,” and “Much-Hearing”—who are meant to protect the nation and relieve all living beings. 🌿🍃 The temple's structures have been destroyed multiple times by war, and the buildings visible today are reconstructed versions. 🌿🍃 Generally, one can start from the subway station Shitennoji-Yuuhigaoka and walk south through the alleys until reaching the stone torii gate, 🌸🌺 which is the oldest existing stone torii gate in Japan. 🌸🌺 This is a significant cultural property and a symbol of the temple. 🌸🌺 Shitennoji has two main entrances, the south gate known as Nandaimon and the west gate known as Gokurakumon. 🌸🌺 #Osaka #Shitennoji 🏯🍁