In ancient time, the capital of Japan was changed everytime a new emperor occupied the throne. Nara was one such capital that continued to function as a capital city for 74 years. Despite the fact that the capital was shifted again after 74 years, to Nagaoka, Nara, still managed to gain the title of being the first permanent capital of Japan. Today, Nara, is a prime tourists spot known for its historic temples and roaming deer. Its location, around 42 km from Kyoto, also makes it, one of the most visited cities of Japan.


Buddhism in Nara
After Nara (Heijokyo) became the capital of Japan, it developed rapidly both politically and culturally. Buddhism came to Japan with the opening of Silk Route in the 2nd century BCE, however, it was during the Nara period (the years when Nara was the capital city), that started to really spread. Empress Suiko openly encouraged people to accept Buddhism. In 607, an imperial envoy was sent to China so as to procure copies of Sutras. The Nara period also saw the emergence of various schools of thought.

Nara grew tremendously under the reign of Shomu-tenno (701-756) who also did a lot to promote Buddhism in Japan. Imperial edicts were issued to construct new temples and a special Government agency (the Shakyoshi) was established to produce copies of Buddhist writings.

The style of temple construction was heavily influenced by the China, which itself incorporated elements bottowed from Indian culture.

As time passed, the number of Buddhist clergies and their influence on the state policies increased. It was this that forced Kammu-tenno to shift the capital of Japan from Nara to Nagaoka.

Despite the fact that Nara ceased to be the capital city of Japan, its influence in the cultural arena remained as strong as ever. Even today, Nara is one of the first destinations to be visited by a Buddhist tourist in Japan. Also, 8 of the temples of Nara are listed as the world heritage site. These include Todaiji Temple, Shoso-in Hall, Kofukuji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Gangoji Temple, Horyuji Temple and Yakushuji Temple. Buddhist Attractions

• The Kasuga Shrine : Nestled amidst verdant woods, Kasuga Taisha was originally the royal shrine of the influential Fujiwara family. It was first built in 768 and continued to be rebuilt every 20 years (as per Shinto concept of purity) till 1863. There are four separate buildings honouring Takemikazuchi, Futsunushi, the ancestral gods of the Fujiwara family and Amenokoyane and his consort Hime-okami. The temple is located in the Nara Park and is open everyday from 9 am to 4.30 pm.
  
  
• Kofukuji Temple : Amongst the seven great temples of Nara, Kofukuji Temple was established in 669. It was an important temple of the Fujiwara family and the Hosso sect of Japanese Buddhism. The temple, originally stood at Kyoto and was called Yamashina-dera. Later, it was removed to Umasaka and then to Nara, when it became the capital of Japan. At its prime, the temple comprised 175 buildings, however, the fights between Minamoto and Taira families led to the destrution of most of them. Worthseeing in what remains today are the Nan-endo, Hoku-endo, Chu-kondo and To-kondo. Apart from these halls, there is also a five storey pagoda considered the second highest one in Japan and the Kokuhokan or Treasury containing a range of art treasures belonging to the templem specially a bronze head of Buddha. The temple is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
  
  
• Chuguji Temple : Originally a nunnery, the Chuguji Temple had abbesses who were members of the Imperial family. Worthseeing in the temple are an expressive wood figure of Nyoirin-Kannonerected by Shotoku and the Tenjukoku Mandara, a piece of the earliest known embroidery work of Japan. The mandara shows scenes of the life in the Asuka period.
  
  
• The Hokkiji Temple : Established in 638 by a priest called Fukuryo, the Hokkiji Temple is also known as Okamoto Temple. The three storey pagoda here belongs to the early Nara period, around 685.
  
  
• The Horinji Temple : The temple was constructed in 621 by a son of Shotoku-taishi and its main hall is dominated by a seated wood statue of Yakushi-nyorai in the Toribusshi style. The hall also houses statues of Kichijo-ten, Sho-Kannon and Bishamonten of the late Heian period. The Lecture Hall comprises wooden statues of the Eleven-Headed Kannon, Kokuzu-bosatsu and Jizo-bosatsu.
  
• Horyuji Temple : Constructed by Shotoku-taishi, son of the first Buddhist emperor of Japan, Yomei-tenno, the temple is amonst the seven great temples of Nara. Also, the entire temple complex is the oldest completely preserved temple complex in Japan. The complex houses a total of 45 buildings constructed between the Asuka and Momoyama period. Out of these, 17 have been declared major national treasures. The two atorey wooden main hall of the temple is considered the oldest surviving wooden building in the world and was adorned with frescoes similar to the ones in Ajanta caves, India. Within, there are statues dating back to the 7th century, the most important being that of Shakyamuni. A five storey pagoda is also seen in the temple complex on the ground floor of which are four terracottas depicting scenes from the life of Buddha.
  
  
• Todaiji Temple : Th temple belongs to the Kegon sect of Buddhism and is counted amongst the Seven Great Temples of Nara. The construction of the temple commenced following an imperial edict by Emperor Shomu in 745 and was finally completed in 752. The statue of Great Buddha (Daibutsu ) was installed. The head of the statue was destroyed first in an earthquake and then by fire. However, both the times, it was restored. The Buddha Hall where the statue is housed is two-thirds of the original size but still, it is the largest timber building in the world. The temple timings differ in different months. In March, it is open between 8am-5pm; from April-September between 7:30am-5:30pm; in Oct between 7:30am-5pm and from November -February, between 8am-4:30pm.
  
  
• The Shin-Yakushiji Temple : The temple was constructed by the wife of Emperor Shomu and is dedicated to Healing Buddha (Yakushi). The statue of the Healing Buddha is sculpted out of a single piece of wood. There is also the statue of the Eleven-Headed Kannon, surrounded by 12 pottery figures of the guardian divinities (Juni-shinsho). The main hall of the temple is the original structure which was constructed during the Nara period.
  
  
• Toshodaiji Temple : The main temple of the Ritsu sect, the Toshodaiji Temple was founded in 759 by Ganjin. Out of all the buildings that stand today, only the main hall and the lecture hall have original foundations. The main hall houses a seated statue of Rushana-butsu, a Thousand-Handed Kannon, and Yakushi-Nyorai. The lecture hall has huge figures of Miroku-bosatsu by Chun Fa-li , apart from cypress wood statues of Jikokuten and Zochoten.
  
  
• Yakushiji Temple : An important temple of the Hosso sect, the Yakushiji Temple construction began in 680 during the reign of the Emperor Temmu, and finally concluded in 687 under his wife's supervision. The temple suffered damages time and again, and today, only the East Pagoda stands on the original foundation. The main hall of the temple houses the famous Yakushi Trinity - Yakushi-nyorai along with Nikko-bosatsu and Gakko-bosatsu. The Lecture Hall also has a Yakushi Trinity. The East Pagoda stands obliquely opposite the Lecture hall and behind the East Pagoda is the East Hall with a bronze figure of Sho-Kannon. On the other side of the pagoda Bussokudo containing a stone which has footprint of Buddha. There is also a bell tower and a The Hozoden (Treasury).