Established in 607 A.D. by Prince Shotoku, a vigorous supporter of Buddhism, Horyuji Temple was inscribed on the world heritage list in 1993 as the oldest wooden structure in the world. Various national treasures representing Japanese Buddhist art are displayed, such as the statue of “Kudara Kannon” in the Kudara-Kannon-Do Hall of the Daihozoden treasure house.
The temple is divided into the “Sai-in” (West Precinct) and “To-in” (East Precinct). In the former are buildings from the Asuka Period or 8th century. These include the five-storied pagoda and the Kondo Hall. The precinct also holds “Tamamushi-no-Zushi”, a Buddhist alter from the Asuka Period, the “Yumechigai Kannon” statue, as well as other temple treasures. The “Tamamushi-no-Zushi” is decorated with the wings of jewel beetles laid under metal openwork.
In the East Precinct is the “Yumedono”, the oldest octagonal hall in Japan. A life-sized wooden statue of Prince Shotoku know as the “Guze Kannon” is kept here. The statue is open to the public from mid-April to mid-May.