commune with the six realms of hell, starvation, beasts, carnage, human beings and divine beings. Sanmon The Sanmon Gate is considered an Important Cultural Property. It contains five wooden Buddhist statues (not available for public viewing), as well as a plaque with calligraphy by the Imperial prince, which is said to contain five hidden doves in the lettering. Reconstruction of the Sanmon Gate began on October 1, 2002 and was scheduled to end on December 31, 2007. Kyōzō The Kyōzō is located on the far left from the Sanmon Gate. It is also an Important Cultural Property. The building contains a repository of printed Buddhist sutras, and visitors get to rotate the octagonal sūtra holder, in order to gain enlightenment. The Kyōzō was constructed in 1759, although the sūtra holder was made in 1694. Zenkō-ji Hon-dō This is the Main Hall, located at the northern end of the compound. It is considered a National Treasure. References Further reading Graham, Patricia J. (2007) Faith and Power in Japanese Buddhist Art (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press) . External links Zenkō-ji Official Site (Japanese) Yamasa Institute Multimedia Studio This is an excellent overview of Zenkō-ji, with many good photographs. Buddhist temples in Nagano Prefecture 644 establishments Tendai temples Jōdo-shū Nagano (city) National Treasures of Japan Religious buildings and structures completed in 644 7th-century Buddhist temples