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Picturing the PastHōryūji Temple Japanese Buddhist temples, like those in China and Korea, consisted of several buildings within a walled compound. The buildings of the Hōryūji Temple (built between 670 and 711, after Prince Shōtoku’s original temple burned down) include the oldest wooden structures in the world and house some of the best early Buddhist sculpture in Japan. The three main buildings depicted here are the pagoda, housing relics; the main hall, with the temple’s principal images; and the lecture hall, for sermons. The five-story pagoda could be seen from far away, much like the steeples of cathedrals in medieval Europe. (Michael Hitoshi/The Image Bank/Getty Images)ANALYZING THE IMAGE How are the buildings arranged? How large is the compound? What is interesting about the roofs?CONNECTIONS Was this temple laid out primarily for the convenience of monks who resided there or more for lay believers coming to worship? How would their needs differ?