Nara - Kofuku-ji Temple

In front of the hall is a 9th C bronze lantern with an inscription attributed to Kobo-daishi - southwest of this stands a three-story pagoda, a graceful structure of the Fujiwara period.

North of the Nan-endo is the Hoku-endo (Northern hall), also on an octagonal plan. This was originally built for the Empress Gensho in 721 in memory of Fubito, founder of the Kofukuji Temple, and rebuilt in 1208. It contains a wooden statue of Miroku-bosatsu (1212), probably by Unkei. To the east can be found the Chu-kondo, a hall built in 710 and rebuilt in 1819, with a wooden statue of Shakyamuni.

The To-kondo (East Hall), rebuilt in its original form in 1415 after repeated destructions, contains a 15th C statue of Yakushi-nyorai, together with statues of Nikko-bosatsu and Gakko-bosatsu (probably 8th C) and other sculpture.

Facing this hall to the south is a five-story pagoda erected in 730 by Komyo, wife of Shomu-tenoo, burned down five times and rebuilt in its original form in 1426. The second highest pagoda in Japan (164ft/ 50m), it is a notable example of Nara architecture; it contains statues of Amida-nyorai, Shakyamuni, Yakushi-nyorai and Miroku-bosatsu. Northeast of the Tokondo is the Kokuhokan or Treasury, built in 1959, which contains a variety of art treasures belonging to the temple. Particularly notable are a bronze head of Buddha (7th C), a carved wooden group of the Juni-shinsho ("Twelve Celestial Generals", Heian period), two No figures (Kongo and Misshaku), a statue of Ashura in dry lacquer technique (Early Nara period) and two guardian figures (Kongo-rikishi).