The Background to the Construction of Local Buddhist Temples in Ancient Japan

Abstract

Archaeological excavation has confirmed a rapid increase in the construction of Buddhist temples in the provinces during the latter half of the seventh century. Looking at the temples built in eastern Japan during that time, we find them located not only in well-known traditional tumulus areas, but in other areas as well. From temples with the names of districts (kori郡), it is clear that temple construction was being carried out by local powerful families, mainly district administrators (kori-no-tsukasa郡司). In addition, from examples of temples being excavated near district offices (gunga郡衙), it has been suggested that these temples possessed public functions. However, since there are no existing records and no chronological connection linking district offices with adjacent temples, we should probably consider their character as family temples, or ujidera氏寺, an idea that appears in such documents as memorials inscribed on Buddist statues sculptured during the period and the "Kanaizawa Hibun"金井沢碑文 inscription. The reorganization of local administration following the Taika reforms of 645 AD made it possible for both district offices and local temples to be constructed in areas other than where tumulus clusters existed. This sudden appearance of district offices in not-tumulus areas is recorded in the legend surrounding Mibu-no-Murajimaru壬生連麿 in the Hitachikoku Fudoki常陸国風土記. Changes in local governance came about under the kori評 system implemented during the reign of Emperor孝徳. While the position of Kori-no-tsukasa under this system favored pre-Taika powerful local families, former kuni-no-miyatsuko国造, the great increase in the number of districts under this system necessitated appointments four times the number of existing kuni-no-miyatsuko families. From the item in an edict issued to governors in the eastern provinces decrying local powerful families falsifying the record to gain appointments, we can confirm the dilemma that this new system posed to local power politics at the time. The excavation of roof tiles from temples in the Kinai region suggest the political nature of temple construction in eastern Japan. In particular at imperial family temples, such as Kawara-dera川原寺, the fact of roof tiles being "donated" seems to have been one way for local families to guarantee their political positions. The significance of temple construction on the local level lay in gaining recognition of existing political positions from the central powers in the Capital. Due to the bureaucratization of local powerful families under the centralized state system, it became necessary to stabilize power on the local level. On the other hand, for newly rising local powers, the implementation of the new kori system presented an opportunity for building new political bases. Finally, this new system of local governance also necessitated a new ceremonial agenda, which was provided by Buddhism.