National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties · Nara

Horyuji Temple East Dormitory

Horyuji Temple East Dormitory: A Nara-Period Monks' Residence

The Horyuji Temple East Dormitory, a Nara-period National Treasure, is a monks' residence whose southern end became the Shoryoin; two rooms show its original layout.

Designation National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties

Location Nara

A Nara-period dormitory east of the cloister

The Horyuji Temple East Dormitory (法隆寺東室, Hōryū-ji Higashimuro) in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, is a Nara-period monks' dormitory east of the Western Precinct cloister, designated an Important Cultural Property on June 26, 1942, and a National Treasure on May 29, 1965.

Twelve bays by four, single-storey with a gabled tile roof, it is the first of the four dormitories listed in the temple inventory. The Shoryoin to its south was originally part of this building.

Alterations and restoration

Damaged early in the twelfth century, it was heavily repaired in 1121, when the three rooms at the south end became a hall for an image of Prince Shōtoku. That section was rebuilt as the present Shoryoin in 1284, leaving six rooms in the East Dormitory today.

In 1121 the columns were shortened and the near-earthen floors replaced with boards. In 1377 the floor frame, ceilings and roof frame were reworked and bracket arms (funahijiki) inserted on the outer posts. From about then, the system of one room per two bays broke down, partitions moved and some rooms became a sutra store. The building now largely reflects the 1377 state, except the second and third rooms from the north, which have been restored to the original dormitory unit: a two-bay-square main room with front and back rooms.

Plain structure, older timbers

The structure is spare: purlins sit directly on both outer and inner posts, tie beams span the aisles, and in the core the room divisions carry trusses while the spans between use a great rainbow beam with a king post to the ridge. The rafters are round. The great beams arch along their whole length, and an unusual vaulted ceiling follows their upper edge.

The Horyuji East Dormitory is thought to have been built right after the core of the precinct, yet its foundation stones and columns include reused material that may go back to the temple's founding. With its original structure well understood, it is of great value for picturing how Nara-period monks lived.

Visiting

The East Dormitory is the long building east of the Western Precinct, continuing north from the Shoryoin, and can be seen from the paths. The interior is normally closed. Follow its roofline north from the Shoryoin to sense the full length of the original dormitory.

Name	Horyuji Temple East Dormitory (Hōryū-ji Higashimuro)
Location	Horyuji Sannai, Ikaruga, Ikoma District, Nara Prefecture
Designation	National Treasure
Year Designated	Important Cultural Property 1942/6/26 (Showa 17); National Treasure 1965/5/29 (Showa 40)
Quantity	1 building
Dimensions	12 by 4 bays, single storey, gabled roof, tile roof
Owner	Horyuji Temple
Public Access	Exterior only (interior normally closed)

Horyuji Temple East Dormitory

A Nara-period dormitory east of the cloister

Alterations and restoration

Plain structure, older timbers

Visiting

Q&A

Basic Information

References

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