Byodo-in Temple (Phoenix Hall), Japan, Heian Period (12th c.)

Who: Fujiwara no Yorimichi, founder

What: Byodo-in Temple (Phoenix Hall)

When: Late Heian Period, 1153 (12th c.)

Where: Kyoto, Japan

How: Constructed using stone bases, wooden pillars and posts, and tiled roofs.

Why: Temple to Buddha Amitabha (Amida) designed to represent his Pure Land [Sukhavati]

Additional Information: The Phoenix Hall consists of a central hall, flanked by twin wing corridors on both sides of the central hall, and a tail corridor. The central hall houses an image of Amida Buddha. The roof of the hall displays statues of the Chinese phoenix, called hōō in Japanese.