Yakushiji Temple - East Pagoda / West Pagoda
Category: Temple

The East Pagoda is 33.6 meters high and is the only wooden structure to have survived fires and other disasters at the temple since it was first built over 1,300 years ago. One of several National Treasures at the temple, the East Pagoda is a three-story structure, but appears to have six roofs due to an architectural technique that would have been cutting edge at the time of construction. The top roof and every second tier below are true roofs, while the others are "pent," or "skirt" roofs. A central pillar supports the structure of the true roofs, but the "skirt" tiers are largely decorative, helping to disguise structural elements while protecting them from the elements. The unique interweaving of different-sized roofs provides an inspiring and grand rhythmical balance. Ernest Fenollosa (1853–1908), the American historian of Japanese art and Tokyo Imperial University professor who saw the East Pagoda when he was involved in conducting the first inventory of Japan's Important Cultural Properties, is credited with describing it as "frozen music." The pagoda's finial incorporates a Water Flame bronze object, that depicts celestial figures dancing and playing flutes on bronze openwork and serves as a charm protecting the pagoda from fire.

The West Pagoda is thought to have been originally erected at the time of the temple's founding, but was destroyed by fire in 1528. In 1981, it was rebuilt in the style of the Hakuho period (645–710). The brilliant red and green colors stand in contrast to the weathered hues of the East Pagoda and give an idea of how the older pagoda must have looked in its original glory.

Pagodas derive from stupas, white domed structures topped by a finial that were first constructed in ancient India and served as monuments housing important relics, including bone fragments of the Buddha. The two pagodas at Yakushiji house eight recently made dioramas depicting scenes from the life of Shakyamuni. While the East Pagoda’s diorama shows scenes from his early years, the West Pagoda starts from the Buddha's attainment of enlightenment when he was 35, following him until his death at age 80.

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World Heritage Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara