Horyuji, near Nara 
"Despite the fact that Todaiji Temple with its Great Buddha gets all the glory, true seekers of Buddhist art and history head to the sacred grounds of Horyuji Temple with its treasures and ancient buildings."
-- Frommer's Guide to Japan
 
The Kondo (main hall) and five-story pagoda at Horyuji Temple; one of two 8th-century guardian deities in the Middle Gate. |
Horyuji (Flourishing Law Temple) is an important Buddhist temple in Ikaruga near Nara. Horyuji is of great historical importance: it was from here that Buddhism blossomed and spread throughout Japan. Today about 45 buildings remain, some of them dating from the end of the 7th century and including the oldest wooden structures in the world. The atmosphere at Horyuji is serene and authentically ancient — no wonder it was selected as Japan's first World Heritage Site (designated 1993).
History
The temple was founded in 607 AD by the much-revered Prince Shotoku, who is credited with first promoting Buddhism in Japan. Buddhism had arrived in Japan only 50 years before the temple was built. The main purpose of the temple (which was then named Ikarugadera) was to properly house a statue of the Medicine Buddha.
The original temple burned down in 670, but was gradually rebuilt until the early 8th century. Several buildings still survive from this early rebuilding period, making Horyuji the oldest surviving Buddhist temple in Japan. Horyuji went on to bocame a major religious center for Hossō Buddhism. (Yakushiji, also in Nara, is the head temple of the sect.)
In 1993, Horyuji was the first site in Japan to be added to UNESCO's Cultural World Heritage List. The Japanese government lists a number of buildings and artifacts of Horyuji as National Treasures.
What to See
The sprawling grounds of the temple (over 1km wide) include no less than 20 gates and buildings designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. The area is divided into the Western Temple and the Eastern Temple, the Western being the older of the two. Following is a table of the most important buildings at Horyuji, listed in the order of the usual recommended itinerary beginning at the southern gate into the Western Temple and ending at the eastern end of the complex.
| Image | Japanese | English | Date | Description |
| Nandaimon 南大門 |
South Great Gate | 1438 | A suitably grand entrance and a National Treasure. | |
| Chumon 中門 |
Middle Gate | late 7th cent. | This Asuka-era gate marks the entry into the inner sanctum of the Western Temple (回廊). The Kongo-rikishi guardian statues on the sides of the gate are the oldest in Japan. | |
| Kondo 金堂 |
Golden Hall (Main Hall) | c. 700 | Believed to be the oldest wooden building in the world, this squat two-story Asuka-era hall is also full of priceless treasures, including: the original Medicine Buddha for which the temple was built; the "Shaka Triad": a bronze image of the historical Buddha, cast in 623 and flanked by two bodhisattvas; Buddhas commemorating Prince Shotoku's parents; Japan's oldest set of four heavenly guardians (late 7th-early 8th c.); and murals attributed to a Korean monk. There are often long lines to get in. | |
| Gojuto 五重塔 |
Five Story Pagoda | 7th C | Standing next to the Kondo, this graceful five-story structure is the oldest pagoda in Japan and a much-copied archetype.
Inside the pagoda are relics of the Buddha and early 8th-century clay images. The most interesting statue is in the north alcove and depicts the Buddha entering nirvana watched by a small, quite realistic crowd. |
|
| Daikodo 大講堂 |
Great Lecture Hall | 990 | On the north side of the Western Temple, this hall dating from the Heian era is one of the largest buildings in Horyuji. | |
| Daihozoden 大宝蔵殿 |
Great Treasure Store Hall | 1998 | A modern building housing a permanent exhibition of some of the temple's wealth, accumulated over a millenium. A separate admission of ¥500 is charged. | |
| Todaimon 東大門 |
East Great Gate | 8th cent. | This stately gate was once another entrance into the temple, but now marks the division between the west and the east halves of the complex. | |
 |
Yumedono 夢殿 |
Dream Pavilion | 739 | Main building of the Eastern Temple. Constructed on the site of the building where Prince Shotoku once meditated, as a sanctuary to pray for his soul. The Kuze Kannon statue within is shown to visitors between April 11-May 18 and October 22-November 23. |
| Chuguji Temple 中宮寺 |
7th cent. | A separate temple for Buddhist nuns just outside the northeastern tip of the Horyuji complex, this was originally the palace of Prince Shotoku's mother. Inside is a 7th-century statue of a serene Future Buddha (Miroku Bosatsu) and a replica of the Tenjukoku Mandala, the oldest piece of embroidery in Japan. A separate admission of ¥500 is charged. |
From Chuguji, it is a 5-8-minute south to the main road, where you can catch a bus back to the train station.
Location Map
Location and satellite view of Horyuji, southwest of Nara. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. You can explore all of Nara from space on our Nara Satellite Map.
Quick Facts
| Names: | 法隆寺, Horyu-ji, Horyuji, Temple of the Flourishing Law, 法隆学問寺, Hōryū Gakumonji, Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, Ikarugadera |
| Type of site: | Buddhist temple; Buddhist monastery; World Heritage Site |
| Dates: | Founded 607 AD; oldest buildings date from late 7th cent. |
| Records: | Oldest Buddhist temple in Japan; oldest wooden pagoda in Japan; oldest wooden building in the world |
| Location: | Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan |
| Phone: | 07457/5-2555 (Chuguji Temple: 07457/5-2106) |
| Hours: | daily from 8am to 4:30pm (or later) |
| Cost: | Kondo, Gallery of Temple Treasures, and Yumedono Hall: ¥1,000. Chugi-ji Temple: ¥500 |
| Bus: | 52, 97 or 98 from JR Horyuji Station to Horyuji Mon Mae stop. |
Article Sources
- Horyuji: A Brief History - official website of Horyuji
- Ikaruga and Mt. Shigi Area - Nara Prefecture Official Website
- Horyuji Temple - Japan Atlas
- Horyuji travel guide - Wikitravel
- Buddhist Monuments in the Horyuji Area - UNESCO World Heritage
- Reviews of Horyuji - TripAdvisor traveler reviews
