Question: what was the purpose for building the monuments in the horyu ji area

title: Hōryū-ji
text: The temple was originally commissioned by Prince Shōtoku ; at the time it was called Ikaruga - dera ( 斑鳩 寺 ) , a name that is still sometimes used . This first temple is believed to have been completed by 607 . Hōryū - ji was dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai , the Buddha of healing and in honor of the prince 's father . Excavations done in 1939 confirmed that Prince Shotoku 's palace , the Ikaruga - no - miya ( 斑鳩 宮 ) , occupied the eastern part of the current temple complex , where the Tō - in ( 東院 ) sits today . Also discovered were the ruins of a temple complex which was southwest of the prince 's palace and not completely within the present temple complex . The original temple , named by modern historians and archaeologists Wakakusa - garan ( 若草 伽藍 ) , was lost , probably burned to the ground after being hit by lightning in 670 . The temple was reconstructed but slightly reoriented in a northwest position , which is believed to have been completed by around 711 . The temple was repaired and reassembled in the early twelfth century , in 1374 , and 1603 . 

Answer: answer: The temple was originally commissioned by Prince Shōtoku. Hōryū-ji was dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of healing and in honor of the prince's father.