A belfry in a skirt
The Horyuji Temple Eastern Precinct Bell Tower (法隆寺東院鐘楼, Hōryū-ji Tōin Shōrō) in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, is an early Kamakura-period belfry, first protected on April 7, 1900, and designated a National Treasure on February 2, 1955. It stands to the west, between the Denpodo and the Shariden and Edono.
Three bays by two, its lower storey is wrapped in a flared casing of boards and plaster known as a hakamagoshi, a "skirted waist." The roof is hip-and-gable and tiled. The precinct's own early inventory does not mention it; the first record is in a later temple chronicle that dates its construction to 1163.
The oldest skirted belfry
Early bell towers were open two-level buildings like the one in the Western Precinct. The skirted form seen in the Horyuji Eastern Precinct Bell Tower later became standard across Japan, and this is the oldest surviving example. That is the main reason for its National Treasure status.
The present building shows mid-Kamakura style, but some tie beams, bracket arms and roof struts appear to be timber from 1163. It is thought to have been dismantled and rebuilt in the Kamakura period with most columns, brackets and eaves replaced. The roof frame and gable decoration were altered in the Momoyama period, and in the Edo period a stone sill was added under the skirt and the lower two-thirds of what had been an all-plaster casing was boarded over. That is how it looks today.
Upper brackets and a Tenpyō bell
On a low platform, square lower posts are tied together by several tiers of beams, with a plate on top to receive the round upper columns. The upper balcony rests on extended tie beams and has a simple railing.
The upper brackets project in two steps with a coved soffit (shirin), yet skip the usual three-block set at the tip and carry the purlin directly, a rare and economical solution. The rafters are closely spaced in two layers. Rafter spacing varies from bay to bay, probably because the rebuild kept the dimensions of the 1163 tower, making it a transitional example before rafter spacing was standardized.
The bell is a Tenpyō-period casting that temple records say came from Chuguji, the convent right next door. It is a small, tangible link between neighbors.
Visiting
The Eastern Precinct Bell Tower stands within the Eastern Precinct and is seen from outside; you cannot climb it. Step back and look up at an angle to read the line between boards and plaster on the skirt and the upper brackets.
Hours, tickets and directions are on the Horyuji page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Nara
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Horyuji Temple Eastern Precinct Bell Tower
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Q&A
- What does "hakamagoshi" mean on the Horyuji Eastern Precinct Bell Tower?
- It is a flared casing around the lower storey, like a skirt. This tower is the oldest surviving belfry of that type.
- When was the Horyuji Eastern Precinct Bell Tower built?
- It is first recorded in 1163; the present building is thought to be a Kamakura-period rebuild.
- Where does the bell in the Horyuji Eastern Precinct Bell Tower come from?
- Temple records say it is a Tenpyō-period bell from neighboring Chuguji.
- Can you climb the Horyuji Eastern Precinct Bell Tower?
- No. It is viewed from outside within the Eastern Precinct.
- When did the Horyuji Eastern Precinct Bell Tower become a National Treasure?
- It was first protected on April 7, 1900, and designated a National Treasure on February 2, 1955.
Basic Information
| Name | Horyuji Temple Eastern Precinct Bell Tower (Hōryū-ji Tōin Shōrō) |
|---|---|
| Location | Horyuji Sannai, Ikaruga, Ikoma District, Nara Prefecture |
| Designation | National Treasure |
| Year Designated | Important Cultural Property 1900/4/7 (Meiji 33, under the earlier law); National Treasure 1955/2/2 (Showa 30) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 3 by 2 bays, skirted lower storey, hip-and-gable roof, tile roof |
| Owner | Horyuji Temple |
| Public Access | Within the Eastern Precinct; exterior only |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties — Horyuji Eastern Precinct Bell Tower
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/2696
- Cultural Heritage Online — Horyuji Eastern Precinct Bell Tower
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/db/heritages/detail/190533
Last verified: 2026.10.01
