is a Shingon temple in Uzumasa, Ukyà  Ward, Kyoto, Japan. The temple is also known by the names and , and was formerly known as , and .
Kà Âryà «-ji is said to be the oldest temple in Kyoto, having been constructed in 603 by Hata no Kawakatsu upon receiving a Buddhist statue from Prince Shà Âtoku. Fires in 818 and 1150 destroyed the entire temple complex, but it was rebuilt several times since.
The prevailing theory is that Kà Âryà «-ji was founded in the first half of the 7th century near the present-day Hirano Shrine in Kita-ku, Kyoto (identified as the site of the "Kitano Temple ruins"), and moved to its current location around the time of the Heian-kyà  foundation. Initially, the temple's principal image was Miroku Bosatsu, but around the time of its relocation, it became a temple centered on Yakushi Nyorai, and it also became a temple centered on the worship of Prince Shà Âtoku. The principal image of the Jà Âgà «à Â-in, which is the current main hall of Kà Âryà «-ji, is a statue of Prince Shà Âtoku. The "Jà Âgà « Shà Âtoku Hà Âà  Teisetsu" lists Hachioka-dera (Kà Âryà «-ji) as one of the "Seven Great Temples Established by Prince Shotoku."
While texts such as the "Nihon Shoki" confirmed that it was a family temple of the Hata clan established by Hata no Kawakatsu, many points remain unclear due to the loss of ancient records in a fire in 818. The Hata clan was a toraijin immigrant clan, whose origins are theorized as from Han China, Silla or Baekje. They possessed skills in sericulture, weaving, sake brewing, and water management. The Kijima-za Amaterasu Mitama Jinja (a shrine dedicated to silkworms) near Kà Âryà «-ji, the Umenomiya Taisha in Umezu, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, and the Matsuo Taisha in Arashiyama, (both dedicated to the gods of sake brewing) are also said to be shrines related to the Hata clan. According to the Nihon Shoki, in the 11th year of Empress Suiko's reign (603), Prince Shà Âtoku asked his ministers, "I have a precious Buddha statue in my possession; is there anyone who would like to worship it?" and Hata no Kawakatsu received the statue and built Hachioka-dera. On the other hand, the Kà Âryà «-ji Engi (Jà Âwa Engi), compiled in 838, and the Kà Âryà «-ji Shizai Kà Âtai Jitsurokuchà  (Record of the Changes in Koryu-ji Temple's Assets), compiled around 890, state that Kà Âryà «-ji was built in the 30th year of Empress Suiko's reign (622) to commemorate Prince Shà Âtoku, who died that same year. There is a difference of nearly 20 years regarding the founding year between the Nihon Shoki and the Kà Âryà «-ji Engi, which may indidate that the temple was founded in 603 and completed in 622, or that "Hachioka-dera," built in 603, and another temple built in 622 later merged. On the other hand, the Shà Âtoku Taishi Denreki (Biography of Prince Shà Âtoku) contains an alternative account that the temple was built on Prince Shà Âtoku's Kaede-no-betsugà « detached palace.
Kà Âryà «-ji was completely destroyed by fire in 818, and none of the original buildings remain. Dà Âshà  (a disciple of Kà «kai), who became the head priest of Kà Âryà «-ji in 836, worked to restore the burnt halls, pagodas, and Buddhist statues, and is considered the restorer of Kà Âryà «-ji. Later, in 1150, the temple was completely destroyed by fire, but it was rebuilt relatively quickly, and the dedication ceremony for the various halls was held in 1165. The existing lecture hall (an Important Cultural Property), although heavily modified, is thought to be a successor to the building completed in 1165.
The temple possesses the "Kà Âryà «-ji Engi Shizai-chà Â" (National Treasure), compiled in 873, and the "Kà Âryà «-ji Shizai Kà Âtai Jitsuroku-chà Â" (National Treasure), dating from around 890. These documents provide clues to understanding the actual state of Kà Âryà «-ji's buildings, Buddhist statues, land, and assets in the 9th century. The "Jitsuroku-cho" is a record of changes made by inspecting the entries in the "Shizai-cho" more than ten years later. While the first few dozen lines of the "Shizai-chà Â" are missing, the "Jitsuroku-chà Â" can fill in these gaps.
During the Edo period, following the enthronement of Emperor Reigen in 1663, Kà Âryà «-ji was added as one of the "Seven Great Temples" institutionalized by Emperor Go-Mizunoo, and played a role in national prayers.
Kà Âryà «-ji houses two half-seated Maitreya Bodhisattva statues, sitting contemplatively in the half-lotus position, commonly known as the and , both designated as National Treasures. The Hà Âkan Maitreya statue is made of Japanese red pine, a unique material for ancient Japanese Buddhist statues. The Hokei Maitreya statue, on the other hand, is made of camphor wood, a common material for wooden sculptures from the Asuka period.
As mentioned earlier, the Nihon Shoki records that in the 11th year of Empress Suiko's reign (603 AD), Hata no Kawakatsu received a Buddhist statue from Prince Shà Âtoku. However, the Nihon Shoki only refers to it as a "revered Buddha statue," not specifically mentioning "Maitreya," and there is no conclusive evidence that this "revered Buddha statue" corresponds to either of the two Maitreya Bodhisattva statues mentioned above.In addition, although it is a later record, the "Kà Âryà «-ji Raiyuki" (compiled in 1499) states that in the 24th year of Empress Suiko's reign (616), a gilded bronze statue of the Maitreya Bodhisattva, seated at a height of 2 shaku, was brought from Silla and enshrined in the temple. Furthermore, the Nihon Shoki contains an account that in the 31st year of Emperor Suiko's reign (623, or the 30th year in the Iwasaki edition), envoys from Silla and Mimana came to Japan and enshrined Buddhist statues they brought back at Kadono Hata-dera, and there is a theory that these Buddhist statues correspond to one of the two wooden half-seated statues of Maitreya Bodhisattva.
HÃ Âkan Miroku statue is 123.3 centimeters tall (including the left foot), and 84.2 centimeters tall when seated. Carved from a single piece of Japanese red pine, it depicts Maitreya with his right hand lightly resting on his cheek, in a contemplative pose. While the surface of the statue currently shows most of its natural wood, traces of gold leaf remain on the lower abdomen and other areas, indicating it was originally covered. The index and little fingers of the right hand and the tips of both feet are later additions, and the face has also been repaired. The statue is believed to have been made in the 7th century, but based on its style and other characteristics, the prevailing theory is that it was brought from the Korean Peninsula. There are hypotheses that it was made in Japan, and hypotheses that it was carved in Japan from sacred wood brought from the Korean Peninsula, but this is not certain. The theory that it was brought from the Korean Peninsula suggests that this statue corresponds to the Buddhist statue brought to Silla in the 31st year of Empress Suiko's reign (623 AD), as recorded in the Nihon Shoki.
Of the Buddhist statues designated as Important Cultural Properties, all except the seated statues of Kokuzo Bosatsu and Jizo Bosatsu are housed in the Reihoden (Treasure Hall).
The temple is also renowned for its , traditionally held in mid-October, but currently suspended.