Motoyakushiji Temple was an important Buddhist temple located in the southeastern part of present-day Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture. It once served as the Yakushiji Temple of Fujiwara-kyo, Japan’s ancient capital. According to historical records, Emperor Tenmu vowed to establish the temple in 680 to pray for the recovery of his ailing consort, who later became Empress Jito. The name “Motoyakushiji,” meaning the original Yakushiji, came to distinguish this temple from the Yakushiji later established in Nishinokyo, Nara City.
The temple stood within the central area of Fujiwara-kyo and was once an imposing religious complex. It played an important role in the development of Buddhist culture in ancient Japan, and its surviving foundations provide valuable insight into the architecture and religious life of the period.
According to the Nihon Shoki, in November 680, Emperor Tenmu vowed to build Yakushiji to pray for the recovery of his consort, Princess Uno no Sarara, who had fallen ill. One hundred people were ordained as Buddhist monks, and the historical record states that the empress subsequently recovered.
Construction is thought to have begun around 682. By approximately 688, during the reign of Empress Jito, the main hall had been completed and the temple was beginning to take shape. By 698, during the reign of Emperor Monmu, nearly all of the temple buildings were reportedly complete.
In 710, the capital moved to Heijo-kyo, present-day Nara City, and Yakushiji was established in Nishinokyo. It was once believed that the original temple buildings at Motoyakushiji had simply been dismantled and relocated. However, more recent archaeological investigations suggest that the Nishinokyo temple was more likely built anew.
Differences in roof tiles and architectural styles support this interpretation. Motoyakushiji itself is believed to have continued to exist until the beginning of the 11th century, making it an important site for understanding the transition from Fujiwara-kyo to Heijo-kyo.
Parts of the foundation stones of the main hall remain at the temple site. The building stood on an earthen platform approximately one meter above the surrounding rice fields. Its structure measured seven bays across the front and four bays in depth, with side aisles extending around the building.
The foundation platform measured approximately 29.5 meters from east to west and 18.2 meters from north to south. It had three stairways at the front and one at the rear, following an arrangement similar to that of Yakushiji in Nishinokyo. These remains indicate that the original main hall was a substantial structure.
The foundations of the East and West Pagodas reveal differences in their dimensions and construction. The East Pagoda’s foundation measures approximately 14.2 meters on each side and stands about 1.45 meters high. A central cavity intended for sacred relics remains at its center.
The West Pagoda’s foundation measures approximately 13.5 meters on each side and stands about 1.6 meters high. Its central foundation stone has a distinctive projecting tenon-like form. These remains offer valuable clues to the building techniques and Buddhist beliefs of the time.
The middle gate was three bays wide and two bays deep. The surrounding corridor was a single-aisle structure. This differs from Yakushiji in Nishinokyo, whose corridor was later modified into a double-aisle structure.
Because Motoyakushiji preserves evidence of the earlier arrangement, its remains are especially valuable for understanding the original temple layout and the architectural traditions of ancient Japan.
Motoyakushiji was designated a Historic Site in 1921 and elevated to the status of a Special Historic Site of Japan in 1952. A series of archaeological excavations conducted between 1976 and 1996 further clarified the temple’s layout and confirmed its historical importance.
The area around Motoyakushiji is also known for its water hyacinths. Since 1996, the local volunteer group Shidonocho Shimotsukikai has planted these aquatic flowers in unused rice fields near the ruins.
The flowers are usually at their best from late August through late September, when purple blossoms spread across the fields to create a beautiful seasonal landscape. This display attracts many visitors and offers a striking contrast to the ancient temple foundations.
Motoyakushiji is approximately a five- to nine-minute walk from Unebigoryomae Station on the Kintetsu Line. Kashiharajingumae Station is about a 20-minute walk away. Visitors can also consider using Nara Kotsu buses or Kashihara City community buses to reach the surrounding area.
Motoyakushiji offers a glimpse into the Buddhist culture and architectural achievements of Japan’s early imperial capitals. Although most of the original buildings have disappeared, the surviving foundations reveal the impressive scale of the temple complex. A visit in late summer, when water hyacinths bloom across the nearby fields, combines archaeological discovery with the seasonal beauty of the Nara countryside.