Kudara-ji

was a Buddhist temple located in the city of Hirakata, Osaka, Japan. The temple is now in ruins, and its former precincts were designated a National Historic Site in 1941, with the designation changed to a Special National Historic Site in 1952. The site was opened to the public as one of Japan's first archaeological parks in 1965.

== History == Kudara-ji was founded by Kudara-no-konishiki Kyōfuku in 750 AD. In 660 AD, the kingdom of Baekje in the Korean Peninsula was conquered by the Silla–Tang alliance, and its final king, Uija of Baekje was taken to China as a prisoner. However, his son Buyeo Pung escaped to Japan, and together with Yamato general Abe no Hirafu unsuccessfully attempted to restore the kingdom. Another son, named Zenkō (善光 or 禅広), settled in Japan and was given the family name Kudara no Konikishi (百濟王; "king of Baekje") by the emperor of Japan. The Kudara-no-Konishiki clan initially enjoyed privileged treatment but were assimilated into the Japanese aristocracy in 691. Kudara-no-Konishiki Kyōfuku was the great-grandson of Zenkō and in his role as nominal governor of Mutsu Province found a large deposit of gold which was donated to the Court for use in the completion of the Daibutsu at Tōdai-ji in Nara. Kudara-ji (whose kanji is the same as "Baekje") was constructed shortly after this event.