18 Jun 2014

Horyu-ji Temple's Western Precinct

World's oldest wooden buildings here are 1300 years old

Oleh Tomoko Kamishima

Community writer

Five-story pagoda and Kon-do Hall in Sai-in Precinct

Cloister supported by wooden ‘entasis’ pillars

View of five-story pagoda and Ko-do Hall from the cloister

Woman sitting on the stone in the same style as an old tree

Benten-ike Pond in front of Sai-in Precinct and brilliantly colored azaleas

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

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.　