Shitennoji

The prince

Prince Shōtoku commissioned the temple to spread Buddhism

Prince Shōtoku was known for his profound Buddhist faith in the 6th century, when Buddhism was not widespread in Japan. He led a national project to popularize it and commissioned Shitennō-ji, inviting three carpenters from Baekje.

Four institutions

The temple was built with a hospital and a pharmacy

The temple honors the Four Heavenly Kings. Its Shika-in, the Four Institutions, were one for religion and education, one for welfare, a hospital and a pharmacy. Three of the four are known to have existed in the Kamakura period.

A firm

A builder of the temple founded what became the oldest company

One of the members involved in the initial construction of the temple in the 6th century later established the firm Kongō Gumi, which specialized in temple and shrine buildings. It was the world's oldest company until the Takamatsu Construction Group acquired it in 2004.

The turtles

A turtle-shaped stonework is still used for rituals

In the Kameido hall is a 7th-century turtle-shaped stonework that was used for state rituals with water. Today it is still used for rituals to commemorate ancestors, by floating sheets of wood with their names on the water.

Rebuilt

Most of the buildings date from the rebuilding in 1963

The temple is sometimes regarded as the first Buddhist and oldest officially administered temple in Japan. Its buildings have been rebuilt a few times, and most of the present structures date from the last complete rebuilding in 1963.

1963year of the last complete rebuilding