Hoanden (Octagonal Pavilion) (Fujisawa)

 temple, statue, buddhist temple

This pavilion was modeled after Yumedono of Horuyu-ji temple in Nara. It contains Kanagawa's cultural assets - Happi-Benzaiten, Hadaka-Benzaiten (Myoon-Benzaiten) and Jugo-Doshi, and other items.

The most popular of them is Myoon-Benzaiten, the statue of this goddess of art (or Muze) - the Naked Benzaiten; this is a unique seated statue of the naked goddess, with a lute in her hands, symbolizing femininity. This is one of the best statues of Kamakura period.

The Happi-Benzaiten or the Benzaiten of Eight Arms, also was made in Kamakura period - the Shiogun Minamoto no Yoritomo asked Mongaku, a Buddhist monk, to cast this bronze statue to curse the Shiogun's enemy, Fujiwara no Hidehira.

The third noticeable figure here is the Dragon of Enoshima.

Photography, video records or mobile phone usage is prohibited in the Hoanden.