Hōryū-ji Temple

Also known as Hōryūji, Hōryū-ji

is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Built shortly after Buddhism was introduced to Japan, it is also one of the oldest Buddhist sites in the country. Its full name is , or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, with the complex serving as both a seminary and monastery.

Key facts

Religious building.name: Hōryū-ji法隆寺
Religious building.image: 230px
Religious building.caption: Kondo
Religious building.mapframe: yes
Religious building.mapframe zoom: 14
Religious building.mapframe wikidata: yes
Religious building.location: 1-1 Hōryū-ji Sannai, Ikaruga-chō, Ikoma-gun, Nara Prefecture
Religious building.religious_affiliation: Shōtoku
Religious building.deity: Shaka Nyorai (Śākyamuni)
Religious building.country: Japan
Religious building.founded_by: Empress Suiko, Prince Shōtoku
Religious building.year_completed

Article

20 sections

Contents

History
Architecture
Present complex
Characteristics
Pagoda
Kondō
Yumedono (Hall of Dreams)
Treasures
Kudara Kannon
Murals
Shaka Triad
Tamamushi Shrine
Yakushi Nyorai
Yumedono (Guze) Kannon
Serving the needs of architectural research
Gallery
See also
References
Further reading
External links

The temple was founded by Prince Shōtoku in 607. According to the Nihon Shoki, in 670 all buildings were burned down by lightning. Reconstruction of the temple complex began soon after. Rebuilt at least 1,300 years ago, the Kondō (main hall) is widely recognized as the world's oldest wooden building. A tree ring survey conducted in 2001 revealed that the shinbashira of the five-story pagoda were cut down in 594, before it burned down in 670.