Provincial temple

Kokubun-ji (国分寺^?) were Buddhist temples established in each of the provinces of Japan by Emperor Shōmu during the Nara period (710 – 794). Shōmu (701 – 756?) decreed both a kokubun-ji for monks and a kokubunni-ji (国分尼寺^?) for nuns to be established in each province. Tōdai-ji, the provincial temple of Yamato Province, served as the head of all kokubun-ji, and Hokke-ji held that duty for the kokubunni-ji. The words kokubun-ji and kokubunni-ji gave rise to many place names still in use today, including:

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