Phone +81 744-54-2126 | ||
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Address Japan, 〒634-0103 Nara Prefecture, Takaichi District, Asuka, 大字飛鳥682 Similar Tachibana‑dera, Oka‑dera, Gangō‑ji, Amakashi‑no‑Oka Observatory, Kawara‑dera | ||
oka dera asuka dera omiwa shrine hase dera
Asuka-dera (飛鳥寺), also known as Hōkō-ji (法興寺), is a Buddhist temple in Asuka, Nara. Asuka-dera is regarded as one of the oldest temples in Japan.
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Taiko at asuka dera nara ken
Temple complex
A number of records refer to the origin of the temple, such as the Nihongi and Fusō-ryakuki. The original buildings of what was then called Hōkō-ji were constructed in 588 under the guidance of craftsmen from the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje , shortly after the introduction of Buddhism from Baekje, one of the three principal states on the Korean peninsula, according to various sources including Buddhism in Japan.
Following the transfer of the capital from Asuka to Heijō-kyō (now Nara city), the buildings of Asuka-dera were also removed from the original site in Asuka to Nara in 718 CE, and developed into a huge temple under the name of Gangō-ji. The original site of the Hōkō-ji was also maintained as a temple which survives into modern times.
The main object of worship at Asuka-dera is the bronze Great Buddha, which said to be made by Kuratsukuri no Tori in the early seventh century. The statue is a designated an Important Cultural Property.