Model Course

Yakushi-ji Temple

The establishment of the temple started in the 9th year of the Temmu era(680) with the wish of Emperor Temmu that Empress would recover from her illness. With the transfer of the capital to Nara, the temple was moved to the present site in the 2nd year of the Yoro era (718). As for the transfer of the temple, there are two theories, one being that temple buildings and images of Buddha were totally transferred to the present site, and the other going that only the name of the temple was transferred, and temple buildings and images were newly constructed on the present site. If the former theory is correct, the East Pagoda and the Yakushi Triad prove to have been made in the Hakuho period. But if the latter is correct, those are the works of the early Tempyo period. The two theories used to pose a controversial issue for the academic society of art history,but the latter theory has recently been predominant over the former. Two three-storied pagodas (the East Pagoda and the West Pagoda) are placed centering around the Golden Hall and Lecture Hall. The arrangement of the temple buildings is so unique that the style of this temple is called "Yakushi Style". A fire broke out several times and most of the buildings were burned down. The East Pagoda is now the only structure that was constructed at the time of the foundation of the temple. The other buildings including the Golden Hall were reconstructed, and finally in the spring of the 56th year of Showa(1982), the West Pagoda was completed. The popular visiting course is to start from the station and begin with the Lecture Hall. Another course can be to go through the south gate and then visit the East Pagoda, the West Pagoda, the Golden Hall, the Bussoku-do Hall, Toin-do Hall,and the Lecture Hall in this order. After you finish visiting this temple, why don't you go to Toshodai-ji Temple? (1 minute's walk from Kintetsu Nishinokyo Station)

Toshodai-ji Temple

This temple was founded in the 3rd year of the Tempyo era(759) by the Chinese Buddhist priest Ganjin Wajo, who, with the invitation of Emperor Shomu, came to Japan after going through all sorts of hardships. The whole temple, including the Golden Hall called "Tempyo-no-Iraka," the Lecture Hall and the Treasure Hall, still keeps its original appearance. The temple buildings are beautifully arranged, which shows us broad-mindedness of the people of the Tempyo era. After the capital was transferred to Kyoto, the temple declined for some time. In the Kamakura period (1192-1333), however, the temple buildings were restored by the priest Kakujo, and in the Edo period, its edifices were repaired. (5 minutes' walk from Kintetsu Nishinokyo Station)