is the head temple of a branch of the Shugendà  religion called Kinpusen-Shugendà  in Yoshino district, Nara Prefecture, Japan. According to tradition, it was founded by En no Gyà Âja, who propagated a form of mountain asceticism drawing from Shinto, Taoism and Buddhist beliefs. Along with à Âminesan-ji Temple, it is considered the most important temple in Shugendà Â.
The temple's main building, the "Zaà Â-Hall" (Zaà Âdà Â) dedicated to Zaà  gongen (èµçÂÂ権ç¾), is the second largest wooden structure in Japan after the Great Buddha Hall at Tà Âdai-ji in Nara. Kinpusen-ji is a junction in a series of stops on pilgrimage routes.
A Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari à Âkami is attached to the main compound. In 1963, the Temple constructed a hall named Southern Court Mystic Law Hall (Nanchà  Myà Âhà Âden) to appease the soul of the four emperors of the Southern Court and others who lost their lives in many battles since the "Northern and Southern Courts period" (Nanboku-chà  period, 1336âÂÂ1392). The principal image is the statue of Gautama Buddha (Shaka Nyà Ârai).
In 2004, it was designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.