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Nara and Kyoto in the Kansai region, both of which were historically the capitals of Japan, have preserved a large number of valuable temples, shrines, and other ancient buildings, many of which have been inscribed on the World Heritage List.
🤗 Horyuji Temple
Creation of Birdseye
Classification World Heritage Site
The world's oldest surviving wooden building complex.
The Zanjou area is a major transportation hub from the Osaka Plain into the Nara Basin, and is also home to Horyuji Temple, the world's oldest surviving wooden building complex. Since its founding by Prince Shotoku in the 6th century, Horyuji has gone through several revolutions before taking shape.
The east garden is the former site of Prince Seitoku's Bangeo Shrine and is the center of the Prince's faith. The main building of the east garden, Yume-den, is an octagonal round hall, which is said to have been built in memory of Prince Seitoku. The Yume-den was remodeled in the Kamakura period, and the exterior roof was raised, which is a typical example of Japan's continental architectural style that was adapted to the local climate. The Eiden-Sheriden on the north side of the east garden and the Chuanfudo, which was used as a lecture hall, are characterized by the distinctive architectural features of the Japanese housing system, demonstrating the correspondence between ancient sacred and secular spaces and architectural styles.
🤗 Yakushiji Temple
Construction Period: Nara Period
Level of protection: World Heritage Site
The East Pagoda is a complete example of the Shiraho architectural style that can be seen today.
Yakushiji Temple was founded in 680 by Emperor Temmu to pray for the welfare of his sick wife, and was originally located in Fujiwara-kyo Muraba-cho, but after the capital was moved to Hirajo-kyo in 710, Yakushiji Temple was rebuilt in Saikyo, Hirajo-kyo.
The overall layout of Yakushiji Temple has been modified in many ways compared to the temples of the Hatori period. The most important feature is the twin towers facing each other in front of the Kondo, which was a new standard for national temples in the Nara period. In addition, the cloisters were connected to the lecture halls, making the central courtyard around the cloisters no longer an inaccessible and sacred area, but an external space for holding pujas.
The architecture and art of the Fujiwara-kyo period is known as the "Shiraho style" (named after the yearly name "Shirahone" of the Tenmu Emperor), which is different from the Tenpyo style after the capital was moved to Nara. The East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple, which was built in the Nara Period, is a complete example of the Hakuho style of architecture that can be seen today, as it was inherited from the old Fujiwara Temple. The East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple is a three-story pagoda with a sub-staircase on each level, so that it has a total of six levels of eaves, and its volume is so varied that it is unique among the existing pagodas in Japan, and has been described by the art historian, Fenollosa, as "frozen music". Because it follows the Shiraho style, the East Pagoda differs in many details from the stylistic features of the Kindo of Tang Shodoji Temple, which was built at a later date. For example, the East Pagoda's bucket mold construction is still in the process of being figured out, and it exhibits an antiquity that is earlier than that of the Kindo of Tang Shodoji Temple.
The East and West Pagodas face each other in front of the huge Golden Hall.
The fire of 1528 destroyed most of the buildings of Yakushiji Temple except for the East Pagoda. Since the middle of the 20th century, the revitalization of Yakushiji Temple has continued, and the reconstruction of the Kindo and the West Pagoda was completed under the auspices of Tsuneichi Nishioka, a pillar of Horyuji Temple, in 1976 and 1981, respectively, so that the historical scene of the twin pagodas of the East and West facing each other in front of the huge Kindo was reproduced.
JR's publicity poster for Yakushiji Temple in 2010
🤗 Todaiji Temple
Founding Period: Nara Period
Level of protection: World Heritage Site
The Daibutsu-den is the world's largest surviving ancient wooden structure.
Todaiji Temple, also known as Kanemitsu Shitenno Gokoku-ji Temple, is located at the bottom of Mount Wakakusa, just outside of Sekkyo on the eastern side of Heijo-kyo, and was the highest public service for the realization of Buddhism as a means of protecting the nation during the reign of Emperor Shomu. The construction of Todaiji Temple took nearly 40 years, and the completed temple is a typical Nara-era national temple, with a central courtyard formed by a corridor connecting the Great Buddha Hall on the central axis, a pagoda yard with seven major pagodas on the east and west sides in front of the central courtyard, and a pulpit and a huge monastic building surrounding three sides of the central courtyard. Todaiji Temple is similar to other Nara temples, but its size is extraordinary. For example, the Daibutsu-den at the time of its foundation was eleven rooms wide (about 86 meters) and seven rooms deep (about 50 meters), with the inner pillars reaching seven feet high (about 21 meters) and a total height of twelve feet by six feet (about 37 meters).
With Japan's ambition to build the greatest temple in East Asia, Todaiji constantly pushed the limits of wooden structures. However, soon after the construction of the Great Buddha Hall, a serious tilting of the pillars occurred, and pillars had to be installed to strengthen the structure, and it has been repaired repeatedly since then. The second generation of the Daibutsu-den is characterized by the architecture of the southeastern coastal area of China during the Song Dynasty, and the extensive use of square pillars to strengthen the connection between the pillars is called "Daibutsu-like" in the classification of styles in Japanese architectural history. The existing south gate of Todaiji Temple was built in 1199, and is the only surviving example of pure "Daibutsu-kan" in the temple. The second-generation Daibutsu-den burned down again during the warring samurai era, and was rebuilt in 1691. The third-generation Daibutsu-den is the building we see today. Compared to the previous two generations, the existing Great Buddha Hall is still recognized as the largest ancient wooden structure in the world, although it has been reduced in size by nearly one-third.
After being destroyed and restored many times throughout history, Todaiji Temple still has 8 buildings designated as National Treasures of Japan and 14 buildings of important cultural properties. From the Nara period to the present day, the buildings in the temple tell the story of the vagaries of the world. In contrast to the changes in physical space, Todaiji Temple has a deep-rooted heritage of beliefs and rituals for the protection of the nation. The annual Shujikai held at Nigetsu-do is called "the law of non-retreating behavior" and has never been interrupted since its inception.
🤗 Kofuku-ji Temple
Founding Period: Nara Period
Level of protection: World Heritage Site
One of the Four Great Temples of the Nara Period
Kofuku-ji Temple, the clan temple of the Fujiwara clan, which was the most important courtier since the Hito era, was originally founded in the Yamashina basin in the eastern part of Kyoto, where the clan lived, and was called Yamadai-ji Temple. 672, when Emperor Tenmu ascended to the throne and chose the location of Fujiwara-kyo, the temple was moved to Fujiwara-kyo, and renamed "Asasaka-ji Temple. The temple was renamed "厩坂寺". When the capital was moved to Heijo-kyo, the temple was moved to Sekkyo, the eastern part of Heijo-kyo, together with the temples of the powerful clans, such as Genkeiji and Kiji. Kofuku-ji Temple grew rapidly under the patronage of the Emperor and the Fujiwara clan at that time, and was ranked as one of the four major temples of the Nara period.
After the transfer of the capital to Heian-kyo, the Fujiwara clan lost some ground, but generally retained its central position, and after the 10th century, the Fujiwara Kita clan, a branch of the Fujiwara clan, became more powerful than ever. At the same time, Nara Buddhism underwent a power cleansing, with Kofuku-ji taking control of Kasuga Taisha and becoming the true ruler of the Yamato.
After the Middle Ages, the buildings of Heungboksa underwent many fires and reconstructions. The existing Donggindang and Five-storied Pagoda were rebuilt in the first half of the 15th century. Although the most advanced construction techniques were used at that time, the style was inherited from the ancient style of Cheonpyeong, reflecting the traditional character of Heungboksa.
Kofuku-ji Temple is still located in the center of Nara's old town and has been revived as the main temple of the Hoshinshu sect. The beauty of the Sarusawa Pond reflecting the Five-storied Pagoda is one of the best sightseeing spots in Nara. In the temple, there are the designated national treasures of Japan, such as the Hokkaido, the Mie Tower, the Higashi Kondo, the Five-storied Pagoda, the important cultural properties of the temple, the Minami-Dojo, the Oyumiya, and other buildings built in different eras. After years of archaeological excavation, the scale of the old pagoda has gradually been clarified, and the scale of the pillar network of each major building is marked out in the form of a site display, so that visitors can experience the splendor of the old days. In recent years, Heungboksa has been undergoing a large-scale restoration project, and from 2010 to 2018, the largest reconstruction of Jungjindang was completed, and in July 2023, the Five-storied Pagoda also entered the restoration cycle.
🤗 Tang Zhouti Temple
Founding Period: Nara Period
Level of protection: World Heritage Site
The Legacy of Monk Ganjin
Tang Zhouti Temple, where the Tang monk Jianzhen spent his later years in Japan, has a unique significance for the Chinese. in the mid-8th century, two centuries after Buddhism was introduced to Japan through the imperial court, a complete system of precepts had not yet been formed, and the then Emperor Shomu was intent on reorganizing Buddhism. Monk Ganjin was invited to cross the sea six times in ten years and finally reached Kyushu, Japan in 753, and entered Heijo-kyo the following year. He set up a precepts altar in front of the Great Buddha Hall in Todaiji Temple, and ordained Emperor Shomu, Emperor Hyoken, Empress Komyo, and more than 400 monks who had abdicated at that time, and then founded the precepts institute in Todaiji Temple, which perfected the precepts system of Buddhism in Japan.
After completing his major precepts, Kanjin left his position as a monk in 758 and accepted a grant from the imperial court of the former residence of the Prince of Shindenbu in Saikyo to build a private temple, Tangjodi Temple, where he began to preach freely until he passed away in 763. At the time of Kanjin's death, the buildings necessary for the life of the monks, such as the lecture hall, the monk's hall, and the refectory, had been completed in Tangshodi Temple.
The existing Kindang, built after the death of Ganjin, is a representative work of the Nara Tenpyo period, and is considered to be the closest thing to a Tang Dynasty building, with a network of columns of the same type as those of the Great Hall of the Buddha's Light Temple on Wutai Mountain in China. a ten-year major renovation of the Kindang of the Tang Shotokanji Temple was carried out between 1999 and 2009, and many details of the historical restoration and modification have surfaced.
🤗 Bireyama Enryakuji Temple
Founding Period: Nara Period
Level of protection: World Cultural Heritage
The temple has a large area with more than 150 buildings
Bireyama, located in the northeast of Kyoto, is an important part of Heian-kyo in terms of the capital's landscape, religious space, and military system, and in 785, the monk Mitsumoto established a hayabusa in Bireyama, and three years later, he founded Ichijyo Shokanin (now Nemonchu-do), and established Tendai Sect's Enryakuji Temple, which was used as a dojo for the nation's blessings. At present, the vast temple area of Bireyama Enryakuji Temple can be divided into three areas, namely the West Pagoda, the East Pagoda, and the Yokogawa River, which are also known as the "Three Pagodas," with a total of more than 150 buildings.
The main hall in the East Pagoda area is the centerpiece of Enryakuji Temple and the place where the temple was first established by Mr. Masazumi. The lamp in front of the Buddha is said to have never been extinguished since the foundation of the temple, and is called the "Unending Dharma Lamp". The predecessor building of Nemonchondo was destroyed by Oda Nobunaga's burning of Hirasan, and was rebuilt by Tokugawa Iemitsu after the Edo period, a project that took 10 years and was completed in 1642. The existing Nemoto Nakado is designated as a National Treasure, with an extraordinary volume, and the cloister surrounding the front is designated as an important cultural property.
The main building in the West Pagoda area, Shakado, is the oldest surviving building of Enryakuji Temple, which was moved from Enjoji Temple by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1595. The East Pagoda of Hoba Soshoin, also located in the East Pagoda area, was reconstructed in 1980, but it is an important building for the Tendai Sect's initiation ceremony. The Yokogawa Nakado in the Yokogawa area was also rebuilt in 1971 as a reinforced concrete building, and is characterized by the use of the "suspension" technique to make it "float" on the mountainous terrain, which echoes the surrounding natural environment. The geographic location of Hiruzan in Kyoto has never changed, but throughout its long history, changes in beliefs, politics, and the economy have influenced the rise and fall of the Eriji temple complex.
🤗 Equality Court
Founding Period: Heian Period
Level of protection: World Cultural Heritage
The architecture is highly compatible with the arts and crafts such as painting and sculpture.
Located on the west bank of the Ujigawa River, Heikein was remodeled from his father's estate by Fujiwara Yoritomo, who held great power in the dynasty at the time. The main hall, Phoenix Hall, is an amidashi hall, which consists of an almost square nave plus a wing gallery and an aft gallery to form a ding-shaped plan that resembles a phoenix spreading its wings and emphasizes the image of the main façade.
The Phoenix Hall is a visualization of the image of the Pure Land of Rebirth. In the Phoenix Hall architecture can be seen everywhere in the visual logic of the first details of the treatment: the sub-steps of the front of the eaves raised a section of the pool on the other side of the pool so that people can directly see the main Buddha's face; wing corridor out of the flat seat with hooks and rails, seems to be the building of the pavilion, but in fact, the second floor for the appearance of the space is low, the people can not stand upright.
In this architectural masterpiece, paintings, carvings, and other arts and crafts are highly matched to the space inside the hall, and one can realize Fujiwara Yoritomo's strong desire to create a Pure Land world in the present world.
🤗 Ujigami Shrine
Founding Period: Presumed to be Heian Period
Level of protection: World Heritage Site
The oldest shrine main hall
Ujigami Shrine is located on the east bank of the Ujigawa River, halfway up the mountain, across the river from Heikein. Since ancient times, it has had a close relationship with Heikein and has been a sacred place of worship for the Fujiwara clan. The existing main hall and the worship hall are both designated as national treasures of Japan, and the main hall, which consists of three inner halls and an overhanging house, is unique in that it is characterized by the style of the late Heian Period and is considered to be the oldest surviving main hall of the shrine.
🤗 Takayama Temple
It is said to have been founded in the Nara period and revitalized in the Kamakura period.
Level of protection: World Heritage Site
Architecture and Nature
Takayama Temple, located in the depths of Mt. In the Kamakura period, Emperor Gotooba gave the temple to a monk, Akie, with the name "Takayama-ji Temple of the First Shining of the Rising Sun," marking the founding of Takayama-ji. In the temple's collection is a designated national treasure of Japan, a painting by a disciple of Akie from the Kamakura period, "A Zen statue of Lord Akie seated in a tree," which depicts him seated in a Zen posture in a pine tree. Another national treasure painting in the temple collection is known as "Bird and Animal Figures in Play".
One of the national treasures of Takayama Temple, Ishizuin Temple, is the only building that remains from Myeong-hui's lifetime. Originally, it served as Akie's study and residence, but was destroyed by a flood in 1228. Later, the Jingzou on the east side of the Kindo inherited the name "Ishimizuin" and enshrined the guardian deity of Takayama Temple, and added a hall of worship in the front, making it the centerpiece of the gajeon.
Ishimizuin was built on a sloping terrain, and the simple architecture of its open front porch, which incorporates the surrounding mountain scenery into the hall, mirrors the nature and is the first scenic beauty of Takayama Temple.
- Author:japan guides
- URL:https://japan-guides.com/article/culture-22
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