At Horyu-ji Temple alone there about 190 categories have been designated as national treasures or important cultural assets (a total of some 2,300 art objects).The Buddhist statues installed in the Kondo(main hall,also know as the "Golden Hall") tell the comlex history of Horyu-ji Temple.A Shakyamuni triad with huge halos reminding us the image of Prince Shotoku are in the center of the Kondo.The seated Yakushi Buddha,famed as the oldest dated Buddhist statue in Japan,which has its history and date carved on its kohai,is installed in the East Room.A seated image of Amida Buddha and three other important images rest in the West Room.The Tamamushi-no-zushi(miniature shrine once decorated with the wing covers of tamamushi [two-striped,green buprestid beetles]);and the tall (210cm),slim,and impressive Kudara Kannon,are kept in the Daihozo-den (Treasure Museum).

A Miroku Bosatsu (Maitreya Boddhisattva),said to be as beautiful as an image of the Virgin Mary,and what remains of the oldest embroidery in Japan,a Mandala banner depicting Paradise,designed by four painters and made by female servants at the request of Princess Tachibana-no-Oiratsume after Prince Shotoku's death,are in Chuguji Temple.This temple was constracted by Prince Shotoku after the death of his mother,Empress Hashihito,for the repose of her soul.

The sturdy,impressive image known as the Kokuzo Buddha (Akasagarbha Boddhisattva) (actually a representation of Kannnon, similar but with a shorter and thicker body than that of the Kudara Kannon),is Horinji Temple.A large 11-faced Kannon,carved from a single block of wood,is installed in Hokiji Temple ,the home of Japan's oldest three-story pagoda.

(The World Herritage Series Postage Stamps)