Shitennoji Temple in Osaka

Shitennoji Temple was established in 593 by Prince Shotoku as the earliest Buddhist temple in Japan, making it the oldest official temple in the country. It served not only as a temple for protecting the Buddhist realm and the nation but also became the hub of political and diplomatic activities, as well as the birthplace of Japanese culture, including the arts and crafts industry. The architectural style, which later came to be known as 'Shitennoji-style,' features a straight alignment of the middle gate, five-story pagoda, Golden Hall, and Lecture Hall, with an outer corridor surrounding them. This style is believed to have originated from China and the Korean Peninsula. Despite the halls, pagodas, and temples having suffered multiple times from wars, disasters, and destruction, they have always been rebuilt, thus maintaining the grandeur of the Asuka period when they were first constructed. This fully reflects the temple's long history and its significant place in the hearts of the people of Osaka.