Horyu-ji Temple's Western Precinct

World's oldest wooden buildings here are 1300 years old

Tomoko Kamishima Jun 18, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Five-story pagoda and Kon-do Hall in Sai-in Precinct</p>

<p>Chu-mon Gate and beautiful streamers</p>

<p>View from the outside of Sai-in Complex</p>

<p>Cloister supported by wooden ‘entasis’ pillars</p>

<p>View of five-story pagoda and Ko-do Hall from the cloister</p>

<p>‘Renji’ lattice window at cloister</p>

<p>Woman sitting on the stone in the same style as an old tree</p>

<p>Benten-ike Pond in front of Sai-in Precinct and brilliantly colored azaleas</p>

<p>Model of an ancient carpenter working for Horyu-ji Temple (at Horyu-ji i Center)</p>

Horyu-ji Temple, about a one hour trip from Kyoto, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It includes the world's oldest wooden buildings, which have endured rain and wind for more than 1300 years. Especially, the five-story pagoda in the temple's Sai-in (Western) Precinct is a very sophisticated artwork, because of its exquisite balance and design, elegant and waterproof eaves, and well-thought-out seismic techniques. Prince Shotoku (574-622), a regent of Emperor Suiko (554-628), established Sai-in (Western) Precinct to train Buddhist priests. He expected these priests to grow and to maintain national order and peace. It was a big project that announced the dawn of a new era of Japan as a Buddhist nation.　

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Tomoko Kamishima @tomoko.kamishima

Japan is a small island nation, but we have a huge number of surprising things to discover here. Many of these delights can be found when you step off the main street onto small side paths. I really enjoy studying about and researching various aspects of traditional Japanese culture, and then sha...