Katsutokuji

【Prayer of Heian, the glory of a national treasure】 The pinnacle of Tohoku Buddhist culture resides in 'Katsunojiji'

Nestled quietly in Yukawa Village, at the center of the Aizu Basin, is 'Katsunojiji'. This ancient temple, said to have been founded by the renowned monk Tokuitsu during the early Heian period (around 800 AD), symbolizes the dawn of Buddhist culture in the Tohoku region. Once you step inside, you will find the 'supreme beauty' that has been preserved for over twelve hundred years quietly breathing.

■ A soul-stirring national treasure: The Three Statues of Yakushi Nyorai

The main attraction of Katsunojiji is the 'Wooden Statue of Yakushi Nyorai' and the two attendant statues, which are national treasures.

• A masterpiece carved from a single tree: The figure, carved from a massive zelkova tree, is powerful yet filled with compassion, and is regarded as one of the finest examples of early Heian sculpture. Its overwhelming volume and almost mystical silence deeply resonate with viewers.
• The hall of wooden sculptures: In addition to the Three Yakushi statues, many other Buddhist statues designated as important cultural properties are enshrined, creating a majestic space that can truly be called a 'museum of wooden Buddhist sculptures.'

■ A 'tranquil grove' where time seems to stand still

The temple grounds, which still retain traces of its former glory as a large temple, are enveloped in nature throughout the seasons.

• The original landscape of prayer: Thatched roofs and ancient stone monuments. In the silence where only the sound of swaying trees resonates, you can touch the smile of the Buddha that the former monks must have gazed upon.

A space of prayer that connects to the deep history of Aizu. Would you like to feel the soul's cry that the artisans of Heian embedded in wood and the gentle light of compassion?