page_title: Hōryū-ji
section_title: Architecture
hierarchical_section_title: Hōryū-ji / Architecture
caption_attribution_description: English: Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area Français&#160;: Monuments bouddhiques de la région d'Horyu-ji Español: Monumentos budistas de la región de Horyu-ji 日本語: 法隆寺地域の仏教建造物 中文: 法隆寺地区的佛教古迹 Nederlands: Boeddhistische monumenten in het Horyu-ji gebied Русский: Буддийские памятники в местности Хорюдзи العربية: النصب البوذيّة في منطقة أوريو-جي Română: Monumente budiste din regiunea Horyu-ji
context_page_description: Hōryū-ji is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Its full name is Hōryū Gakumonji, or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, the complex serving as both a seminary and monastery.
  The temple was founded by Prince Shōtoku in 607, but according to the Nihon Shoki, in 670 all buildings were burned down by lightning. However, reconstructed at least 1,300 years ago, the Kondō is widely recognized as the world's oldest wooden building.
  A fire that broke out during the dismantling and repair of Kondo on January 26, 1949 destroyed a mural of the Asuka period, a national treasure, and shocked the Japanese. Based on this accident, the day when the fire broke out is now fire prevention day for cultural properties.
  In 1993, Horyu-ji Temple, along with Hokki-ji, was registered as Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage site under the name of Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area.
  A tree ring survey conducted in 2001 revealed that the shinbashira of the five-story pagoda were cut down in 594, before burned down in 670.
caption: Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area
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