Yakushiji is a temple of the Hosso sect of Buddhism southwest from the city of Nara. Built in the 7th century by Emperor Temmu, the temple is named after and dedicated to the medicine Buddha Yakushi because the Empress was suffering from illness. Yakushiji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also home to a number of National Treasures identified by the Japanese government including several halls, statues, and the eastern of the temple's two pagodas being the only structure from the 8th century to survive the flames that have destroyed the temple on many occasions. There is a a steady procession of construction projects moving through to renovate and repair the temple structures.

For the casual: 9. For the educated: 9.

Yakushiji is a great look into the past. Considered one of the Seven Great Temples of Nara, Yakushiji is one of the oldest of the great temples and is also the premier temple devoted to the medicine Buddha Yakushi. Walking around the temple grounds felt very strange to an extent because although it was adjacent to a train station, I felt very cut off from the world- in a good way. There were other visitors but largely I felt like I was on my own walking around the temple. The interior of the halls were truly brilliant with bright colors and motifs. With the lack of other visitors, I felt like I was really given the chance to make a personal connection to the temple and to the artifacts that are housed within, something that should not be overlooked when planning which temples to visit.

One of my favorite aspects of the temple is how well it balances visual elegance while also appearing very serene. Yakushiji was built in a much different time from more iconic luscious temples like Ginkakuji or Ryôanji which are temples of the Zen sect of Buddhism and therefore seek to incorporate a strong sense of natural beauty. Yakushiji was constructed during an ancient time when the Emperor had real political power to show off the influence of the Imperial family as the nation adopted the Chinese Imperial model of ostentatious living. In that sense, the red-orange color of the buildings screams to be noticed and the gilt braces and eaves of the halls reflect the prowess of the Emperor, while the quiet interiors with flowers and silk and the large open areas of the temple allow the viewer to enjoy the beauty of the temple without being overburdened.

The Main Hall of Yakushiji housing the main Yakushi Triad with the scaffolding of the Eastern Pagoda undergoing renovations until 2019.

The Eastern Pagoda: the oldest surviving building since the 8th century.