Hōryū-ji Temple

Hōryū-ji Temple, located in Ikaruga Town, Ikoma District, Nara Prefecture, is the head temple of the Shōtoku sect and an important symbol of Japanese Buddhist culture. Originally called Ikaruga-dera, it later came to be known as Hōryū-ji. Its history dates back to the 15th year of Empress Suiko (607 CE) and is deeply connected with Prince Shōtoku. The temple complex covers an area of 187,000 square meters and is divided into two main precincts: the Western Precinct (Sai-in) and the Eastern Precinct (Tō-in). The Western Precinct preserves the world’s oldest surviving wooden structures, which, together with Hōki-ji Temple, were inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1993.

Upon entering, visitors first encounter the Western Precinct. From the South Gate, the grand layout unfolds with the Main Hall (Kondō) on the right and the Five-story Pagoda (Goju-no-tō) on the left, both encircled by a cloister in the shape of the character “凸”. The Middle Gate (Chūmon) is architecturally unique, with four bays across its front—unlike the odd-numbered bay style typical of Japanese temples—making it highly significant in architectural history. Inside the gate stand the earliest known Niō guardian statues in Japan. The Kondō is notable for its double-roofed structure and ornate brackets; inside are statues of Shakyamuni, Yakushi Nyorai, and Amida Nyorai, along with other masterpieces of Buddhist art. In 1949, a fire during renovation damaged its wall paintings, prompting Japan to enact the Cultural Properties Protection Law, with January 26 designated as “Cultural Property Protection Day.” Facing the Kondō stands the Five-story Pagoda, rising 31.5 meters high, its proportioned eaves gracefully diminishing upward. Inside, sculptural tableaux vividly depict Buddhist narratives, such as the Nirvana of Shakyamuni and dialogues from the Vimalakīrti Sutra, now designated National Treasures.

The Eastern Precinct was built on the site of Prince Shōtoku’s former Ikaruga Palace. Its central building is the Yumedono (Hall of Dreams), an octagonal hall enshrining the famous Guze Kannon, believed to have been modeled after Prince Shōtoku’s likeness. Long regarded as a hidden Buddha, it was wrapped in white cloth until Meiji-period scholar Okakura Tenshin and others unveiled it. Even today, it is only displayed publicly during limited periods in spring and autumn. The Eastern Precinct also houses the Painting Hall, the Relic Hall, and the Denpō-dō, with many Buddhist statues dating from the Nara and Heian periods.

For a closer appreciation of Hōryū-ji’s treasures, the Great Treasure Hall (Dai-hōzō-in) is indispensable. It preserves masterpieces of Buddhist art, most notably the Baekje Kannon from the Asuka period, renowned for its slender, elegant figure and hailed as a supreme work of Buddhist sculpture. Another highlight is the Yumedono Kannon, believed to transform bad dreams into auspicious ones. The hall also exhibits the Tamamushi Shrine, a lacquered cabinet inlaid with beetle wings, celebrated for its Asuka-period artistry and its panel paintings such as the famous “Jataka of the Tiger Offering.”