Kanzeon-ji

Kanzeon-ji (観世音寺^?) is a seventh-century Buddhist temple in Dazaifu, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was once the most important temple in Kyushu. Its bell, one of the oldest in the country, has been designated a National Treasure, and in 1996 the Ministry of the Environment designated its sound as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan. Many statues of the Heian period are Important Cultural Properties.

According to the Shoku Nihongi, Kanzeon-ji was founded by Emperor Tenji in honour of his mother Empress Saimei, but was still incomplete fifty years later when in 709 additional workers were assigned to finish the building. The temple had a south gate, middle gate, golden hall to the west, pagoda to the east and a lecture hall in the centre. The temple's buildings were damaged and destroyed in a number of natural disasters and wars. The Kondō, 3x2 bays with mokoshi, and lecture hall were rebuilt in the Genroku era (1688-1703) and have been designated Prefectural Cultural Properties. The grounds and ruins of Kanzeon-ji (観世音寺境内及び子院跡^?) were declared an Historic Site in 1970.

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