b) Description and inventory

For the Buddhist buildings of the Horyu-ji area, the arrangement or composition of buildings in itself has significant historical meaning, and each of the individual buildings displays outstanding architectural style. The nominated property thus meets the Article 1 definition of "groups of buildings". The nominated group consists of 48 buildings as listed in Appendix 7. In Japan there are twenty-eight historic wooden buildings which were constructed before or during the eighth century. Eleven of these are found in the Horyu-ji area. Of these eleven, the Kondo (main hall), Gojunoto (five-story pagoda), Chumon (inner gate) and Kairo (roofed, semi-enclosed corridor) of the Horyu-ji Sai-in and the Sanjunoto (three-story pagoda) of Hokki-ji, which were built from the seventh to the beginning of the eighth centuries, are the world's oldest wooden structures remaining today in their original form. The Sai-in (west temple) and the To-in (east temple) constitute the major sections of Horyu-ji, with several monasteries located around the main temple compound. Sai-in (West Temple) : The Kondo (main hall) was completed by 680, followed by the Gojunoto (five-story pagoda), Chumon (inner gate) and the Kairo (semi-enclosed corridor). The entire temple was completed by around 710. The pillars of these buildings are characterized by entasis and the bracketing systems are in the shape of a cloud; these details indicate that these buildings belong to a period older than and different from many of the buildings built after the eighth century in terms of both structure and design. The structure and design found in these buildings were developed under the influence of the Chinese culture of the Baiwei period (sixth century). The Kondo (main hall) and the Gojunoto (five-story pagoda) are positioned asymmetrically on an axis perpendicular to the central axis of the temple compound. This asymmetrical composition of structures in the central part of a sacred compound is unique among the world's religious monuments. This basic temple arrangement, although the north portion of the Kairo has been changed somewhat, has been maintained since the temple was first erected. Other original structures which remain include buildings connected with the community life of the priests, such as their living quarters and refectory, as well as attached structures such as gates and walls. Thus, almost all of the details that constituted ancient Buddhist temples remain in their entirety at Horyu-ji. At present, fifteen of these buildings including the Kondo (main hall) and the Gojunoto (five-story pagoda are designated as National Treasures and six are designated as Important Cultural Properties. To-in (East Temple) : The To-in was built in the first half of the eighth century. Its main hall, the Yumedono, is an octagonal building surrounded by a corridor. Behind the Yumedono is the Denpodo, a lecture hall, and the priests' living quarters. Buildings other than the Yumedono and the Denpodo were rebuilt in the thirteenth century during a time when belief in Prince Shotoku was at its height. At this time the Raido (worship hall) was built where the original inner gate stood, and a building to hold the Buddha's ashes (originally in the possession of Prince Shotoku) was built behind the Yumedono. This revised arrangement remains today. Three buildings including the Yumedono are designated as National Treasures and six as Important Cultural Properties. Shi-in (Monasteries) : The monasteries take the form of small independent sub-temples. Within each sub-temple, the living quarters for the high priest and his disciples and the Butsudo (hall dedicated to a Buddhist deity) where they carried out their religious activities were placed at the center of an area surrounded by earthen walls. These monasteries are located to the south of the Sai-in (west temple) and between the Sai-in and the To-in (east temple). The construction of monasteries in this area was carried out extensively between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Fourteen of these monasteries, especially those built between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries -- including the Hondo (main hall), Kyakuden (reception hall) and gates -- are designated as Important Cultural Properties. Hokki-ji : Of the original buildings of Hokki-ji, only the Sanjunoto (three-story pagoda) remains today. This, too, is one of the world's oldest wooden structures and is designated as a National Treasure. It shows characteristics in common with the buildings of the Horyu-ji Sai-in (west temple), which was built in the same period. An inscription on the finial base dated 706 indicates the date of completion. Appendix 7 : Inventory of buildings / copies of official designation notices 7a : Inventory of the buildings designated by the national government as National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties 7b : Copies of the official notices issued by the national government designating the buildings as National Treasures, Important Cultural Properties and Historic Sites 7b1 : Notices issued between 1897 and 1942 7b2 : Notices issued between 1943 and 1953 7b3 : Notices issued between 1955 and 1976 7b4 : Notice issued in 1954 (Historic Site designation) Appendix 8 : Drawings of the major buildings 8a : Horyu-ji Kondo (plan, elevation, section) 8b : Horyu-ji Gojunoto (first-story plan, elevation, section) 8c : Horyu-ji Yumedono (plan, elevation, section reconstructed elevation) 8d : Hokki-ji Sanjunoto (ground level plan, intermediate level plan, top level plan, elevation, section)

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