is a

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

temple in Minō city, north of

Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of ...

, Japan. According to an English language brochure given out at the temple, the site was first occupied late in the

Nara period The of the history of Japan covers the years from CE 710 to 794. Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara, Nara, Nara). Except for a five-year period (740–745), when the capital was briefly moved again, it remai ...

by two priests, Zenchū and Zensan. The Miroku-ji temple was erected in 765 CE. The name "Katsuō-ji" was given by the

Emperor Seiwa was the 56th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 清和天皇 (56)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Seiwa's reign spanned the years from 858 through 876.He was also the predecessor of Takeda ryu. T ...

. The temple was burned in 1184 CE. The present Main Hall and Temple Gate were rebuilt by Hideyori Toyotomi. Katsuō-ji is the 23rd temple in the Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage.

"Winner's Luck" and Daruma

The word "katsu" in the temple's name refers to winning. People buy

daruma doll A is a hollow, round, Japanese traditional doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen tradition of Buddhism. These dolls, though typically red and depicting a bearded man ( Bodhidharma), vary greatly in color and design depending o ...

s hoping to obtain "winner's luck".(Source: English language brochure given out at the temple.) If the wish is fulfilled, the daruma is often returned to the temple and left somewhere on the grounds.

References

External links

Katsuō-ji Homepage
Buddhist temples in Osaka Prefecture Important Cultural Properties of Japan Historic Sites of Japan Kōyasan Shingon temples {{Japan-reli-stub