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Words-and-Pictures: Nara's Horyuji
(as seen on October 10th, 2001, on the
Yamato stage of the Aki
Meguri)
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| Note:
Nara is in
the heart of Old Yamato. Horyuji is one of the many temples located on Nara's quieter
west side. It is south of Yakushiji, at the southern end of the
walk I took that day, . A walk down this road
evokes the past in a way that few places can. You can read
about my visit to Nara in my Logbook, read more about my Yamato
experiences, or read about the entire Aki
Meguri from the beginning. |
| I love this place. The first time I
came here, I met a
group of Japanese-Korean students (third generation or more in Japan).
Their teacher was explaining to them that this place wouldn't be here if
Korea hadn't sent Buddhist missionaries. Unquestionably one of the
oldest temples in Japan, and claiming the oldest wooden buildings in the
world, this place is a masterpiece. A word about these pictures: at full size, they're fuzzy.
That's because I was shooting in almost-darkness. I have this idea
for a coffee-table book: World Heritage Sites: What Can We See After
Closing? Anyway, I don't care; it was great to be here.
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The niomon
(Two Kings Gate) and pagoda. |
| The gate to the Yumedono, or
Dream Pavilion. |
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| A pair of kings: The nio. Am I the only one who thinks
the guy on the left looks a little like Darth Maul? |
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HISTORY
