Shitennō-ji

Arahakasan Shitennō-ji
Chushin garan (中心伽藍)
Religion
AffiliationWa-shū
PrefectureOsaka-fu
DeityKannon (Avalokiteśvara)
Location
Location1-1-18 Shitennō-ji
MunicipalityTennōji-ku, Osaka
CountryJapan
Interactive map of Arahakasan Shitennō-ji
PrefectureOsaka-fu
Coordinates34°39′14.04″N 135°30′59.22″E / 34.6539000°N 135.5164500°E / 34.6539000; 135.5164500
Architecture
FounderPrince Shōtoku
General contractorKongō Gumi
Established593
Completed1963 (reconstruction)
Website
shitennoji.or.jp

Shitennō-ji (Japanese: 四天王寺, Temple of the Four Heavenly Kings) is a Buddhist temple in Ōsaka, Japan. It is also known as Arahaka-ji (荒陵寺), Nanba-ji/Naniwa-daiji (難波大寺), or Mitsu-ji 御津寺. The temple is sometimes regarded as the first Buddhist and oldest officially administered temple in Japan, although the temple complex and buildings have been rebuilt over the centuries, with the last reconstruction taking place in 1963. Shortly after World War II, Shitennō-ji became independent of the parent Tendai sect and formed the Wa sect (Wa-shū, 和宗) of Buddhism.