Early Buddhist temples in Japan: Roof‐tile manufacture and the social basis of temple construction

Abstract

Buddhism is considered to have been introduced to Japan from Paekche in AS 538. From that time on edifices of some kind probably existed for housing Buddhist images, although this has not yet been confirmed archaeologically. The construction of Asukadera, the first Buddhist temple compound, began in 588. By 624 more than twenty such temples had been built in Yamato and other provinces in the central Kinai district; all were characteristically initiated by leading aristocratic clans. By the year 692, the number of temples rose to 548 nationwide. Among the newly constructed temples, Kudarataiji (639) was the first to be sponsored directly by the Emperor and built under the supervision of government officials. Similar circumstances attended the construction of late seventh‐century temples that followed (Kawaradera, Takechitaiji, Yakushiji, Daikan Daiji). Accordingly, the first phase of Buddhist expansion in Japan may be characterized as involving a transition from support by local clans only, to a pattern in which official support of the Emperor played a major part.

Keywords:

• Japan
• Buddhism
• temples
• architecture
• craft production
• early state