Gangoji Temple

Overview

Gangoji Temple has its roots in Hoko-ji Temple (Asuka-dera), the first full-fledged Buddhist temple built by Soga no Umako. It was relocated in 718, following the transfer of the capital to Heijokyo. During the Nara period, it flourished as a major temple alongside Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji. However, it declined after the Middle Ages and split into three: Gokuraku-in, which enshrines the Chiko Mandala, Kannon-do, centered on the five-storied pagoda, and the Small Pagoda-in. The current Gangoji Temple (Gokurakubo) is a successor to the Gokuraku-in lineage. The National Treasure Main Hall was renovated from an old monk's chamber in the Kamakura period, and tiles and materials from the Nara period have been reused. The Zen Room may use the oldest wooden architectural materials and has high historical value. The Five-Story Small Pagoda retains almost its original appearance and is a valuable legacy that conveys the architectural technology of that time to the present day. Gangoji Temple is an indispensable presence in telling the history of Japanese Buddhist architecture and continues to attract visitors.