Hōryū-ji

Hōryū-ji, whose name means "Temple of the Flourishing Dharma," is a Buddhist temple in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture. It was built soon after Buddhism arrived in Japan and is among the country's oldest Buddhist sites. Its full title, Hōryū Gakumonji, translates to "Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law," reflecting its dual role as a seminary and monastery. Once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, it now serves as the headquarters of the Shōtoku sect and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Prince Shōtoku founded the temple in 607, originally calling it Wakakusadera—a name still used occasionally. It was dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of healing, in honor of the prince's father. According to the Nihon Shoki, lightning struck and burned down all the buildings in 670. Reconstruction began soon after. Excavations in 1939 confirmed that the prince's palace, Ikaruga-no-miya, once stood where the Tō-in (Eastern Precinct) now sits, and also uncovered ruins of an earlier temple complex southwest of the palace. That original temple, now called Wakakusa-garan by historians, was likely destroyed in the 670 fire. The rebuilt complex was slightly reoriented to the northwest and is believed to have been completed by around 711. It underwent repairs and reassembly in the early 12th century, 1374, and 1603.

The Kondō (main hall), rebuilt at least 1,300 years ago, is widely recognized as the world's oldest wooden building. A tree ring survey in 2001 showed that the shinbashira (central pillar) of the five-story pagoda was cut down in 594—before the 670 fire. On January 26, 1949, a fire broke out during the dismantling and repair of the Kondō, heavily damaging the building and destroying a national treasure mural from the Asuka period. The incident shocked Japan and led to January 26 being designated as fire prevention day for cultural properties.

During the Kamakura period, the cult of Prince Shōtoku grew, and Hōryū-ji became a key site for venerating him. Ritual practices dedicated to the prince increased, and an annual memorial service called Shōryō-e began in the early 12th century, continuing to this day at the temple and others linked to Shōtoku. New halls were added in the Eastern and Western compounds during the Kamakura and early Heian periods, honoring the prince as an incarnation of the bodhisattva Kannon. The rise of the Shōtoku cult from the 7th century onward boosted Hōryū-ji's fame. By the end of Tokugawa rule in the mid-1800s, the shogunate regularly provided extensive funds. Throughout the Edo period, the temple maintained close ties with the Hossō sect.

The Meiji period brought challenges. In 1868, Shinto became the state religion, leading to government confiscation of Buddhist lands, strict supervision, and reduced financial support for Hōryū-ji. The government's recategorization of Buddhist sects did not initially recognize the Hossō sect as a formal institution. When Kōfuku-ji, the Hossō seat, was temporarily shut down during the Meiji restoration, Hōryū-ji affiliated with Shingon Buddhism. Later, when the government allowed temples to choose their own sect, Hōryū-ji renewed its Hossō affiliation. Facing a lack of resources, the monks donated many of the temple's treasures to museums in exchange for compensation, which improved the temple's finances. Conservation work began in 1895, and a massive restoration project started in 1934. It was interrupted during World War II, when large parts of the temple were dismantled and hidden in the hills around Nara. The site was spared from bombing due to U.S. policy on preserving cultural sites in Nara and Kyoto. The restoration resumed after the war and finished in 1985, repairing centuries of environmental damage. Older paintings helped determine the original layout, and many later living quarters were demolished.

Today, Hōryū-ji is a popular pilgrimage site and tourist attraction. According to its website, it houses over 180 of Japan's designated National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. It was the first structure in Japan to become a World Heritage Site, registered in 1993 along with Hokki-ji as the Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area. The temple still holds frequent events across its complex, and many structures are open to the public.