Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land World Heritage Site

Official name
Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land | UNESCO
Country
Japan | Map
Continent
Asia
Location
39.1100° Lat, 141.1077° Lon | Map
Code
1277
Time Zone
Asia/Tokyo (JST, +0900)
Current Time
Category
Cultural
Description
Inscribed 2011. Hiraizumi - Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land comprises five sites, including the sacred Mount Kinkeisan. It features vestiges of government offices dating from the 11th and 12th centuries when Hiraizumi was the administrative centre of the northern realm of Japan and rivalled Kyoto. The realm was based on the cosmology of Pure Land Buddhism, which spread to Japan in the 8th century. It represented the pure land of Buddha that people aspire to after death, as well as peace of mind in this life. In combination with indigenous Japanese nature worship and Shintoism, Pure Land Buddhism developed a concept of planning and garden design that was unique to Japan.