Asukadera Temple

JAPAN, Nara, Asuka

The temple is regarded as the first Buddhist temple in Japan. It was founded by Soga no Umako in 588 during the Asuka period, and the construction was completed in 596. The Buddha’s relics were brought from Korea to Japan to be enshrined at this temple. The temple was destroyed by fire in 1196 during the Kamakura period.
According to excavations carried out in 1956, the temple layout consisted of one pagoda and three Golden Halls. The pagoda in the center was surrounded by three halls on the east, west, and north sides. The layout resembled those of the temples built during the early Goguryeo (37 BCE–668 CE) and Baekje (18 BCE–663 CE) dynasties in Korea. However, no other example has been found in Japan. Remains of the pagoda, the East Golden Hall, West Golden Hall, the Buddha’s relics, and other artifacts were discovered at the site.
The current temple consists of a small number of structures with the main hall as its major building. The main hall was reconstructed in 1825 during the Edo period. It has a single-eave hip roof covered in cylindrical tiles. The Asuka Great Buddha, cast in 609 by imperial order, is enshrined in the main hall.