Yakushiji Temple

Founded in 680, Yakushiji Temple is the head temple of the Hosso sect of Buddhism and one of the Seven Great Temples of the Southern Capital.

It is registered by UNESCO as one of the World Cultural Heritage Sites “Cultural Properties of Ancient Nara”.

The background of the temple’s construction was to pray for the healing of the Empress Tenmu’s illness.

The large temple complex was one of the most magnificent in Japan at the time, and the Kondo and pagoda were so beautiful that they were called “Ryugu-zukuri”.

With the relocation of the capital to Heijo-kyo in 710, it was moved from Fujiwara-kyo in Asuka to Heijo-kyo in 718. After that, due to numerous disasters, including a fire in 973 and a military fire in 1528 during the Warring States period, the Nara-period buildings were lost except for the east pagoda, which has now been reconstructed.

The three statues of Yakushi Nyorai, Nikko Bosatsu, and Gekko Bosatsu (National Treasure), the principal image of the temple, are considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Buddhist sculpture of the Nara period and are enshrined in the main hall.

The base of the Yakushi Nyorai statue is carved with a Greek grape arabesque design, a Persian lotus flower design, images of deities from India, and the four Chinese gods (Blue Dragon, Suzaku, White Tiger, and Genbu), representing the international character of Nara.

Kondo was destroyed by fire in 1528 and remained a temporary building for nearly 400 years, after which it was reconstructed in 1976 in the authentic Hakuho period style.

The East Pagoda is the only remaining structure from the Nara period (7th - 8th century) and is designated as a National Treasure.

The tower is 34.1 meters high (including the sorin), and the roof rises in six places, giving it the appearance of a six-story pagoda, but the first, third, and fifth roofs from the bottom are mokoshi, making it structurally a three-story pagoda.

The bronze suien (water smoke) on the tower’s upper part is openworked with a statue of Hiten (a god of flying heaven), a contemporary example of the high craftsmanship of the Nara period.

Toindo Hall, another national treasure, was rebuilt in 1285 during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). It stands on the east side of the temple grounds, outside the cloister.

Its predecessor was Tozen-in, which was built by Prince Kibi to pray for the repose of the soul of Emperor Gemyo’s soul. The main statue of Sho-Kannon is enshrined in a kitchen inside the hall.

The standing statue of Sho-Kannon is a wax-cast bronze statue, 188.9 cm in height. It is dated to the late Asuka Period (Hakuho Period) or Nara Period (7th - 8th century) and is designated as a National Treasure.

Yakushiji Temple is popular for its interesting sermons that can be heard on the temple grounds. There is also a sutra recitation hall where visitors can try their hand at sutra copying at any time.