Hōryū-ji’s pagoda complex is on Honshu, the Japanese island where the Buddhist temple stands near Nara in the town of Ikaruga.
Hōryū-ji was founded in the 7th century and is associated with Prince Shōtoku, an important early patron of Buddhism in Japan. Its Western Precinct contains some of the world’s oldest surviving wooden structures, including a five-storey pagoda.
The temple’s buildings preserve early Japanese Buddhist architecture influenced by Korea and China. Their timber construction, joinery, and long history make Hōryū-ji especially important to architectural historians.
The site is often described as the world’s oldest surviving wooden building complex rather than simply the oldest wooden building. Hōryū-ji should also be distinguished from Tōdai-ji, the famous temple with the Great Buddha in nearby Nara.