Horyu-ji is a Buddhist temple complex near Nara in Japan, traditionally said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku, the regent who promoted Buddhism in the early seventh century. The original temple was destroyed by fire, according to early chronicles, and was rebuilt, so that its present buildings date from the late seventh and early eighth centuries. They are considered the oldest surviving wooden buildings in the world. The complex includes the Golden Hall and a five-storey pagoda, and it holds a rich collection of early Buddhist art. A fire in 1949 damaged the wall paintings in the Golden Hall, which led Japan to pass a law for the protection of cultural properties. It was Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
Before and after
- 7th centuryOrigins of chess
- from 602 CE to 628 CEByzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628
- 603 CEBirth of Mu'awiya I
- 27 July 604 CEBirth of Fatima
- 607 CEConstruction of Hōryū-ji Temple
- 609 CEThe Grand Canal of China is completed
- 614 CEBirth of Aisha
- from April 614 CE to May 614 CESasanian conquest of Jerusalem
- from 618 CE to 907 CETang dynasty
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 537 CEConstruction of Hagia Sophia
- 637 CEConstruction of Potala Palace
- from 750 CE to 1258Abbasid Caliphate
- 778 CEConstruction of Kiyomizu-dera
- from 29 July 1299 to 17 November 1922Ottoman Empire
- 1460Construction of Topkapı Palace
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 7th century.
