平等院鳳凰堂

A heavenly scene from 11th century

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

2010/04/20

A computer graphic shows the interior of the Byodoin temple's Phoenix Hall as it probably looked about 950 years ago. (BYODOIN 平等院)

UJI, Kyoto Prefecture--A brilliant computer graphics representation of the interior of Byodoin temple's Phoenix Hall is being exhibited in the temple's museum, showing how the hall presented the "Pure Land"--heaven--at its foundation about 950 years ago.

The temple, a World Heritage site, was founded in 1052. When the hall, which houses an Amida Buddha statue, was completed the following year, it was decorated with a mother-of-pearl inlay of imaginary flowers and gold powder as well as paintings of lotus petals and flying musical instruments against a blue sky.

The computer graphics are based on recreations of the hall's paintings by a team from the Tokyo University of the Arts and others.

The exhibition runs through Aug. 6 at the Hoshokan museum.

• びょうどういん　びやうどうゐん 【平等院】
• 京都府宇治市にある単立宗教法人の寺。もと天台宗・浄土宗。1052年藤原頼通が別荘を寺として創建。
• びょうどういん-ほうおうどう　びやうどうゐんほうわうだう 【平等院鳳凰堂】
• 平等院にある阿弥陀堂。1053年藤原頼通が造立し無量寿院と号した。建物全体が鳳凰が羽を広げたような形...