Horyuji

Horyū-ji, also spelled Hōryū-ji, is a Buddhist temple complex located in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Founded in the early 7th century and traditionally attributed to Prince Shōtoku, it was established to house Buddhist relics and to serve as a center for learning and the transmission of Buddhist art and culture from the Asian mainland. The temple's layout reflects early Japanese temple design and the influence of Chinese and Korean architectural styles.

The complex is organized into two main precincts: the East Temple and the West Temple. The West Temple houses the Five-Story Pagoda and the Kondo (Golden Hall), two of the oldest surviving wooden structures in the world. The East Temple contains the Yumedono Hall (Dream Hall), which enshrines the Guze Kannon statue, along with other important sculptures and reliquaries. The site preserves an extensive collection of national treasures and important cultural properties, spanning the Asuka and Nara periods.

Horyū-ji survived fires and periods of renovation, with many of its extant buildings dating to the 7th and 8th centuries. Its architecture, sculpture, and relics offer a valuable record of early Japanese Buddhist practice and cross-cultural exchange. In 1993, Horyū-ji was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of theHistoric Monuments of Ancient Nara, recognizing its significance in the preservation of ancient Buddhist art and architecture.