Gangō-ji
| Gangō-ji | |
|---|---|
元興寺 | |
Gokurakubō (National Treasure) | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Buddhist |
| Deity | Miroku Bosatsu |
| Rite | Sanron and Hosso |
| Location | |
| Location | 11 Chūin-chō, Nara-shi, Nara-ken (Gokuraku-bo) |
| Country | Japan |
| Geographic coordinates | 34°40′40.09″N 135°49′52.88″E / 34.6778028°N 135.8313556°E |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Empress Suiko and Soga no Umako |
| Completed | 593 |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi) |
| Designated | 1988 |
| Reference no. | 870 |
Gangō-ji (元興寺) was one of the first Buddhist temples in Japan, and was ranked as one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, in Nara, Japan. It was mostly destroyed in the Muromachi period and the old town of Naramachi occupies most of what was once the temple's precincts. Three small portions of the temple have survived to the present day, and each is now a separate temple.