One of the sights south of Kyoto Station, 罢艒-箩颈 is an appealing complex of halls and a fantastic pagoda that makes a fine backdrop for the monthly flea market held on the grounds. The temple was established in 794 by imperial decree to protect the city. In 823 the emperor handed it over to K奴kai (known posthumously as K艒b艒 Daishi), the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism.
Many of the temple buildings were destroyed by fire or fighting during the 15th century, and most of the remaining buildings were destroyed in the Momoyama period.
The Nandai-mon (Main Gate) was transported here in 1894 from Sanj奴sangen-d艒 in Southern Higashiyama. The 碍艒诲艒 (Lecture Hall) dates from the 1600s and contains 21 images representing a Mikky艒 (esoteric Buddhist) mandala. The 碍辞苍诲艒 (Main Hall), which was rebuilt in 1606, combines Chinese, Indian and Japanese architectural styles and contains statues depicting the Yakushi (Healing Buddha) trinity.
In the southern part of the garden stands the 骋辞箩奴-苍辞-迟艒, a five-storey pagoda that, despite having burnt down five times, was doggedly rebuilt in 1643. Standing at 57m, it is now the highest pagoda in Japan.
The K艒b艒-san market fair is held here on the 21st of each month. There is also a regular market that runs on the first Sunday of each month.
