Asuka-dera Temple
飛鳥寺 · Asuka
Contents
4 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to Asuka-dera, a site of unparalleled importance in the religious and architectural history of Japan. Established in 588 and completed in 596, this was the nation’s first full-scale Buddhist temple, representing the…
Listen in the app2The Asuka Daibutsu — The Ancient Bronze Great Buddha
We now enter the main hall to stand before the Asuka Daibutsu, an extraordinary 3-meter-tall statue of Shaka Nyorai. Cast in 609 AD, this is the oldest Great Buddha in Japan, a masterpiece attributed to the master craftsman…
Listen in the app3Soga no Iruka’s Head Mound — A Gritty Tale
Just outside the western gate of the temple grounds stands a small stone stupa known as the 'Iruka no Kubizuka,' or the Head Mound of Soga no Iruka. This site marks a gruesome and pivotal turning point in Japanese history. …
Listen in the app4Closing
As we conclude our visit to Asuka-dera, we are left with a profound sense of the 'spiritual weight' this site holds. From the serene gaze of the 1,400-year-old Great Buddha to the blood-stained legends of the Iruka Head Mound,…
Listen in the app
What is Asuka-dera Temple?
Asuka-dera Temple is a place in Asuka with 4 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Asuka |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 4 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 34.4787, 135.8202 |
| Last updated |
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