Kōfuku-ji has its origin as a temple that was established in 669 by Kagami-no-Ōkimi, the wife of Fujiwara no Kamatari, wishing for her husband’s recovery from illness. Its original site was in Yamashina, Yamashiro Province. In 672, the temple was moved to Fujiwara-kyō, the first planned Japanese capital to copy the orthogonal grid pattern of Chang'an. In 710, the temple was dismantled for the second time and moved to its present location, on the east side of the newly constructed capital, Heijō-kyō, today's Nara. Kōfuku-ji was the Fujiwara's tutelary temple, and enjoyed prosperity for as long as the family did. The temple was not only an important center for the Buddhist religion, but also retained influence over the imperial government, and even by "aggressive means" in some cases. When many of the Nanto Shichi Daiji, such as Tōdai-ji, declined after the move of capital to Heian-kyō, Kōfuku-ji kept its significance because of its connection to the Fujiwara. The temple was damaged and destroyed by civil wars and fires many times, and was rebuilt as many times as well, although finally some of the important buildings, such as one of the three goldenhalls, the Nandaimon, Chūmon and the corridor were never reconstructed and are missing today. The rebuilding of the Central Golden Hall was completed in 2018. Rokusō-an was a chashitsu formerly located at the temple and considered one of the San-meiseki. It was relocated due its deteriorated state and is now in the gardens of the Tokyo National Museum
Architectures and treasures
The following are some of the temple's buildings and treasures of note.
Architecture
East Golden Hall, 1425, one of the former three golden halls
Central Golden Hall, 2018, reconstructed, the former temporary Central Golden Hall building now serves as the temporary Lecture Hall
Avalokiteśvara#Manifestations attributed to Kōkei, is housed in Nan'endō
Plan
Showing the original layout of the temple, with the later three-storied pagoda, Nan'en-dō, and Ōyūya superimposed. Of the buildings marked, only these three together with the five-storied pagoda, Tōkon-dō and Hoku'en-dō remain.
