Main Hall (Gokurakubo hondo, circa 1244) of Gango-ji Temple in Nara. National Treasure of Japan

---

Gangō-ji (元興寺) is an ancient Buddhist temple, that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, in Nara, Japan. The original foundation of the temple was by Soga no Umako in Asuka, as Asuka-dera. The temple was moved to Nara in 718, following the capital relocation to Heijō-kyō. Gangō-ji initially held as many as seven halls and pagodas in its precincts, which occupied a wide area within what is now Naramachi, the preserved district of modern Nara city. The original architecture was lost in fires during the 15th through 19th centuries (Muromachi and Edo periods respectively)

---

Size: 3258px × 2000px
Location: Nara, Japan
Photo credit: © Ivan Marchuk / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: ancient, architecture, asia, attraction, buddhism, building, city, cityscape, culture, destinations, east, faith, hall, heritage, historic, historical, history, japan, japanese, journey, landmark, main, nara, oriental, religion, religious, sightseeing, temple, tourism, town, townscape, traditional, travel, treasure, view, worship