Nara's World Heritage Sites
INDEX
About Nara's World Heritage Sites
These refer to Nara City's historical remains, landmarks, and natural monuments, which were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in December of 1998. These items are listed as eight "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.
◆ Cultural assets listed as national treasures in Japan, and formally designated historical grounds.
- Todaiji Temple
- Kohfukuji Temple
- Kasugataisha Shrine
- Gangoji Temple
- Yakushiji Temple
- Toshodaiji Temple
◆ Special Historical Grounds & Special Natural Monuments
- Nara Palace Site Historical Park
- Mount Kasuga Primeval Forest
◆ Nara City as a whole is a World Heritage Site
Unlike many UNESCO sites, the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara" were not registered as eight individual cultural assets, but were instead listed all together as one. The World Heritage Sites of Ancient Nara together tell the story of the city's rich cultural value.
◆ Recognition of Nara's work to preserve its heritage as part of World Heritage Site selection
Though it might seem natural to establish restoration plans after World Heritage designation, the people of Nara greatly value their history, and worked hard to protect the sites of their cultural heritage even before their selection by UNESCO. Nara's initiative and dedication to the preservation of its history is a great pride of the city.
Why the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara" were selected
Nara's World Heritage Sites were selected because they met four out of six criteria for cultural assets by UNESCO.
- ◆ Showcasing the developments in arts and technology brought about by international exchange
- Culture during the Tempyo Era (729-749) blossomed in Japan due to exchanges with China and Korea. Everything from the architecture of the buildings to the layout of the city itself, as well as Chinese kanji characters, the new schools of thought brought via Buddhism, and the clothes that people wore were developed under the influence of these foreign cultures. It is even possible to see elements of Roman and Persian cultures, brought from far across the distant silk road.
- ◆ Important evidence of culture & civilization
- Today's Nara City was once the capital of ancient Japan. In other words, Nara was once the center of culture and civilization, leading the rest of the country. In Heijo Palace, visitors can see evidence of Nara's ancient city plan, and the grandieur of the old capital.
- ◆ The heritage of human history
- The Nara Period (710-794) was an important era for Japanese culture, and establishing the foundation of the national government. During this period, the Emperor Shomu united the nation through Buddhism, and decreed the establishment of buddhist temples in each province across the country. Chief among these was Todaiji Temple. The story of Nara's World Heritage Sites is the story of the birth of Japan.
- ◆ Close ties between tradition and belief
- Religious beliefs and cultural traditions are extremely valuable parts of their respective cultures across the world. Nara's cultural heritage is closely tied to the Japanese belief systems of both Shinto (local Japanese gods) and Buddhism. While Nara's shrines and temples are a part of this of course, it is also the centuries of tradition tied to this location that make Nara the World Heritage Site it is.
What sets the World Heritage Sites of Nara apart
◆ Beautiful restorations and a harmony with nature preeminent in East Asia
Not only in Japan, but across East Asia, Nara is the only ancient city to include both the historical ruins of a palace, and the untouched historical form of its systematically constructed wooden buildings. These wooden buildings and the surrounding natural environment exist in harmony as one, making up the cultural scenery characteristic of Nara City.
◆ More than Heian-kyo (Present day Kyoto City, a former capital after Nara), Heijo-kyo (Present day Nara City) retains more of its historical appearance.
Present-day Kyoto, once known as the old capital of Heian-kyo, has undergone great developments over the years, transforming it into a modern city, in which little remains of its former appearance. Much has been lost with the impact of war and the transition into a highly modern city. Though both Kyoto and Nara are known as ancient cities of Japan, their ambiance is entirely different.
See more about Nara's eight World Heritage Sites.
Todaiji Temple
Todaiji Temple, known for its "Daibutsu-san," or Great Buddha, is a representative temple in Nara, with an imposing appearance of the largest wooden structure in the world. This is a famous temple of the Kegon sect and was founded by Roben.
As the imperial ordinance was issued for the construction of Great Buddha, the temple was erected under national sponsorship so that the Great Buddha would be enshrined. The consecrating ceremony was held in the fourth year of the Tempyo-Shoho era (752). It took almost 40 years to complete the whole temple complex, because the temple site was gradually extended by adding more halls and pagodas.
Yakushiji Temple
The establishment of the temple started in the 9th year of the Temmu era(680) with the wish of Emperor Temmu that Empress would recover from her illness. With the transfer of the capital to Nara, the temple was moved to the present site in the 2nd year of the Yoro era (718). As for the transfer of the temple, there are two theories, one being that temple buildings and images of Buddha were totally transferred to the present site, and the other going that only the name of the temple was transferred, and temple buildings and images were newly constructed on the present site. If the former theory is correct, the East Pagoda and the Yakushi Triad prove to have been made in the Hakuho period.
Kasugataisha Shrine
The Shrine lies in a primeval forest of cedars and a kind of Chinese black pines. The brilliant vermillon edifices are beautifully contrasted with their surrounding greenery. Going through the first and second Torii gates, you can see a lot of stone lanterns standing on both sides of the approach to the shrine. Going on further, you will find the south gate on the left. The main hall is located among trees behind the gate. From the gate a corridor extends to the left and to the right. A great number of lanterns hung from the eaves of the corridor are producing an elegant atmosphere.
Nara Palace Site Historical Park
The extensive open space of lawn seen between Saidaiji Station and Shin-Omiya Station on the Kintetsu Line is the Heijo Palace, the center of Heijo-kyo Capital, which lasted for 74 years over the 7 successive reigns. The Palace was located in the northernmost area of the central Heijo-kyo Capital and, with an extended area toward the east, it had a total area of about 120 hectares. Containing the Daigoku-den and the Chodo-in for formal ceremonies, the Dairl as an emperors' residence, the To-in, and government offices with 8 ministries and 100 agencies, the Palace is considered to have been surrounded by mud walls and moats with a total of 12 gates, 3 gates being built in each direction. A continuous excarvation has been carried out by the Nara National Cultural Properties Research Institute since the 34th year of Showa(1959).
Toshodaiji Temple
This temple was founded in the 3rd year of the Tempyo era(759) by the Chinese Buddhist priest Ganjin Wajo, who, with the invitation of Emperor Shomu, came to Japan after going through all sorts of hardships. The whole temple, including the Golden Hall called ""Tempyo-no-Iraka,"" the Lecture Hall and the Treasure Hall, still keeps its original appearance. The temple buildings are beautifully arranged, which shows us broad-mindedness of the people of the Tempyo era.
After the capital was transferred to Kyoto, the temple declined for some time. In the Kamakura period (1192-1333), however, the temple buildings were restored by the priest Kakujo, and in the Edo period, its edifices were repaired.
Gangoji Temple
This edifice used to be a part of the priests' living quarters of the Gangoji Temple, and was reconstructed as its main hall (National Treasure) and Zen hall (National Treasure) in the Kamakura period (1192-1333). The temple has attracted commoners since the Middle Ages. Numerous stone Buddhas and folk materials were discovered in the precincts. Thanks to the grand repair from the 25th to 29th year of Showa (1950-1954), we can enjoy appreciating the temple structures at the time of the Kamakura period's reconstruction.
In the storehouse are a small wooden five-storied pagoda (National Treasure), a wooden sitting statue of Amida Buddha, Chiko Mandala, an abundance of articles on folk belief, and so on.
Kohfukuji Temple
The Kohfukuji Temple, situated next to the Todaiji Temple, was prosperous as a forerunner of "Buddhism for aristocrats" in the Nara period. Among the seven biggest temples of Nara, the Kohfukuji Temple has developed through the closest relationship with the town of Nara. In the 3rd year of the Wado era (710), the Umayasaka Temple, the predecessor of the present Kohfukuji Temple, was transferred from Asuka to the Nara capital by Fujiwara-no-Fuhito. Then, as a tutelary temple of the Fujiwara family, it extended its influence with the prosperity of the family. The temple was attacked by the Taira family in the fourth year of Jisho (1180), and most of the temple buildings were burned down. In the Kamakura period (1192-1333), however, the Fujiwara family took a position of the Military Commissioner of Nara, and eventually became so influential that they occasionally appealed to the Imperial Palace with soldier monks.
Mount Kasuga Primeval Forest
As the site of Kasugataisha Shrine, Mount Kasuga is a sacred mountain, and as such, for over 1,000 years, the felling of trees from its forests has been forbidden. Because of this, ancient evergreen oaks and beech trees grow here in this virgin forest of evergreens and deciduous trees. The depths of this forest are dark even during the daytime, and are home to such rare creatures as the forest green tree frog, the hime-haru cicada, and the clouded salamander. In 1955, the forest was nationally designated as a special natural momument, and in 1998 was registered as a World Heritage Site.
