英語版のサイトに "Tofukuji Temple" のページをアップロードしました：
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/index.html
東福寺は東山の東南端に位置するお寺です。
藤原道家が1256年(建長7年)に建立しています。
東大寺、興福寺に並ぶ大寺を祈願し、名前もその二つの寺から一字ずつとっています。
京都五山の一つになっています。
"Tofukuji Temple" のページへどうぞ：
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Kansai/Tofukuji_E.html
日本語版の東福寺の散策記は下記です：
http://shanehsmt.html.xdomain.jp/Travel/Japan/Kansai/Kyoto/KyotoEki.html#Tofukuji
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My English site:
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/index.html
Tofukuji Temple was built in 1256 by KUJYO Michiie(1193 - 1252), who was in the prime minister position in the Kamakura Age (1185 - 1333).
Tofuku Temple was named after Todaiji Temple and Kofukuji Temple, which were two major temples since the Nara Age (710 - 794), to be a major temple.
In 1319, all the temple buildings were damaged by fire and rebuilt in 1346.
If you walk from Tofukuji Station on the JR Nara and the Keihan Main Line, you will see "Hoku-Daimon" Gate.
"Hoku-Daimon" Gate was built at the end of the sixteenth century.
After passing through "Hoku-Daimon" Gate, you will see branch temples of Tofukuji Temple, located on the both sides of the street.
The below picture shows "Taikoan" Temple.
Taikoan Temple is a cemetery of the victims who died at the "Boshin" War(1868-1869), which was the Japanese civil war between Imperial and Tokugawa Shogunate forces.
Beyond "Gekkamon" Gate, you will cross over "Gaun-kyo" Bridge. "Gaun-kyo" Bridge is a wooden covered bridge over "Sengyokukan" valley. "Gaun-kyo" Bridge is connected to a public road and open for the public, but it it located in the area of Tofukuji Temple.
To the east, you will see "Tsutenbashi" Bridge over "Sengyokukan" valley. "Sengyokukan" valley is well-known for beautiful colored maple leaves in autumn.
You will go into the main temple area of Tofukuji Temple through "Kusakamon" Gate, beyond "Gaun-kyo" Bridge. You will see the Main Hall.
The Main Hall is huge and is 25.5 meters in height. It was rebuilt in 1934.
It is one of the biggest wooden buildings, built after Word-War II.
If you walk to the south from the Main Hall, you will see "San-Gedatsu-Mon" Gate.
"San-Gedatsu-Mon" Gate is very huge and is twenty-two meters in height.
It is designated as a national treasure of Japan.
The view of "Shiryoike" Pond and "San-Gedatsu-Mon" Gate is very impressive.
After visiting Tofukuji Temple, visited "Fundain" Temple, which is a branch temple of Tofukuji Temple and located to the west from "Kusakamon" Gate.
"Fundain" Temple is well known for the garden, which was made by SESSHU(1420-1502 or 1506), who was a "Zen" priest and well known for his printings.
It was very rich time to stay and see the garden at "Fundain" Temple.
The round window at a tea room is also very impressive.
Please visit the homepage article for more detail.
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