Asuka-dera Temple seen from Amagashi Hill

The Asuka region is located about 30 km south of Nara City.

About 1400 years ago, Asuka was the center of politics and culture when Japan first established its foundation as a country.

Asuka-dera Temple was Japan’s first full scale Buddhist institution, housing the nation’s oldest Buddha statue.

There is the Amagashi Hill in center of Asuka.

I painted around the Asuka-dera Temple from here.

Nigatsudo-Hall

Nigatsudo-Hall is part of Todaiji-Temple, which is famous for the Great Buddha.

You can reach it from both the front approach and the back approach behind Todaiji -Temple.

This picture was drawn from the back approach.

Nigatsudo-Hall is famous for the water removal that takes place on March 12th every year, and the event of burning a huge flame torch in the hall is especially spectacular.

In addition, it is called Nigatsudo-Hall because "Omizutori (Shuni-e)" is held in February of the lunar calendar.

Kongoho Bosatsu

In To-ji Temple located in the south side from Kyoto Station of the Shinkansen, there is 21 Buddha statues group made by a design of Monk Kukai.

I drew Kongoho Bosatsu in that.

It is made with wooden lacquer foil, and this Buddha statue is produced at 95cm in height for 839 years in the Christian era and is appointed to a national treasure.

(Postscript)
Kukai also established the first private school in Japan. Kukai is one of the most famous religious figures in Japanese history. He is also known as a scholar, a prominent calligrapher and an educator.

Nara Park / Ukimido where the autumn leaves began

I went to Nara Park after a long time at the invitation of a sketch party.

Many tourists stand out at Nara Park during this period.
The area around Ukimido was suitable for sketching in a quiet place with few people, but now there are also many people here.
I am especially surprised that the number of overseas tourists is increasing as well as other tourist destinations.

Now, it gets colder in the morning and evening, and trees are starting to turn red in the park.
I drew Ukimido against the background of these autumn leaves.

Bell tower gate of Chogaku-ji Temple

There is Chogaku-ji Temple in the south of Ishigami Shrine which we introduced last time.
Both are along the way of Yamanobeno-michi, and we see a lot of worshipers in hiking style.

This temple seems to be an old temple where Kobo Daishi was established in 824 AD.

There is an approach where the azalea hedge continues on both sides as you go through the gate.
Going through this approach, there is the Bell tower gate.

This gate is designated as the oldest and important cultural asset in our country, and it was once called the Bell tower gate because the bell tower was suspended in the upper part.

This time I tried drawing this Bell tower gate.