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Byōdō-in's founding date is significant as it was considered the 2001 year since Buddha had entered Nirvana and the 1st year of 'The Age of Decline of the Buddhist Law' (末法 'mappō').
Many nobles funded halls and gardens dedicated to Amida, lord of the 'Western Pure Land Paradise'.
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The original main hall stood closer to the river, but in 1053 the current Hōō-dō was constructed as part of an 'earthly paradise'.
Such was Byōdō-in's beauty that a famous saying went ..."If you are suspicious about the existence of Amida's Pure Land, pray at the Temple in Uji".