• Horyuji Temple is widely known as the oldest wooden building in the world that tells the appearance in the Asuka age now. It was vowed for Emperor Yomei to built the temple and the Buddhist image praying for an own sick recovery. However, he has died before the achievement was not seen. Then, it is told that Empress Suiko and Prince Shotoku succeeded Emperor Yomei's wish, and constructed this Horyuji Temple (also called the Ikaruga temple) and the Buddha image "Pharmacist Buddha" in 607. Horyuji is divided into two area, one the west temple in which the tower and the central hall exist in center, and the east temple that Yumedono or Dream hall is. The buildings in each age including the Asuka age are standing and there are a lot of treasures in the area of about 180,000 square meter. Even only the things specified for the national treasure and the important cultural asset are about 190 and the total number exceeds 2300 points or more. Horyuji attracts people's attention like this as the treasure house of a Buddhism culture worldwide will boast of a brilliant tradition lasting for 1,400 years as a Buddhist temple where Prince Shotoku was built, and was registered in the list of the world cultural heritage of UNESCO for the first time in Japan in December, especially 1993.　

South grand gate	From South Gate to Central Gate	Central gate and Five-storied pagoda.	East grand gate is seen.
Central Gate and cloister	Central gate and Deva king statues.	Deva king sculptures, carved in 711.
Central hall and Five-storied pagoda.		Central Gate from inside	Large auditorium, rebuilt in 990
Pharmacist Buddha of big central hall	Five-storied pagoda that enshrines Buddha's remains.	Statue of malicious supports eaves.	The oldest five-storied pagoda in Japan.
Height is 31.5m.	A holy palace where the principal image of Horyuji is enshrined is the central hall. The oldest wooden building in the world.
The central hall is seen from the corridor side.	Five-storied pagoda in back and central hall.	Belfry(Heian era)	Left central hall, right corridor, front belfry.
Spirit Temple(Kamakura Period)	The oldest dining room in Japan (Nara era)	East grand gate (Nara era)	The belfry of Sogenji temple.
Four-pole Gate of east temple entrance.	Corridor and belfry in the east temple	Shari-den and Eden temple (Kamakura Period)	Yumedono, Dream hall (constructed in 739, Nara era)

2007/12/01