Asuka temple（飛鳥寺）

Japan’s oldest authentic Buddhist temple built at the request of Soga Umako

Asuka-dera Temple was built during the Asuka period between the end of the 6th century and the beginning of the 7th century, at the request of Soga Umako as Japan’s first full-scale temple. The temple is about 20 times larger than the current one, and has three main halls (east, west, and north) with a tower in the center, and a corridor running around the outside, which shows how powerful the Soga family was at the time. You can see if it was a wealthy family who owned it.
Advanced engineers from Japan were involved in this construction, making tiles for the first time in Japan and constructing Buddhist temples and pagodas. During the Asuka period, when Japan began as a country and the Ritsuryo state was established, the Emperor made his residence at Asuka-dera Temple, and international exchange flourished, and many things such as learning, art, and culture were transmitted.
Asuka-dera Temple is also known as Hoko-ji Temple or Gango-ji Temple, and after the new Gango-ji Temple was built in Nara following the transfer of the capital to Heijo, it was called Hon Gango-ji Temple. However, most of the temple was destroyed by fire during the Kamakura period, and the current main hall was rebuilt during the Edo period. The main image of the important cultural property (bronze statue of Shaka Nyorai) is affectionately known as “Asuka Daibutsu” and is known as the oldest Buddha statue in Japan. Although it was completely damaged by a large fire and underwent repairs, it continues to be enshrined in the same location for over 1,400 years. The smiling face of Asuka Daibutsu, which has an impressive and mysterious face, is called the archaic smile of ancient Greece.

飛鳥寺（Asuka temple）

Asuka-dera Temple was built during the Asuka period between the end of the 6th century and the beginning of the 7th century, at the request of Soga Umako as Japan’s first full-scale temple.