Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (古都奈良の文化財)

The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara is the general term for temples and other historical monuments in Nara City, Nara Prefecture. It was registered as the ninth world heritage (cultural heritage) of Japan during the meeting of the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held in Kyoto City on December 2, 1998.

Heritage

Todai-ji Temple
Shoso-in Treasure Repository
Kofuku-ji Temple
Kasuga-Taisha Shrine
Gango-ji Temple
Yakushi-ji Temple
Toshodai-ji Temple
Heijo-kyu Palace
Kasugayama Primeval Forest

Standard for registration

The details are listed below:
2. Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara is exceptionally useful evidence of the development of Japanese Architecture and Art and the result of cultural ties among Japan, China, and Korea; it had the important influence on the development which took place in later years.

3. The architectural heritage in Nara Prefecture is the only evidence of the Japanese culture flourished in the period when Nara was a capital.

4. The layout of the imperial household palace in Nara Prefecture and the designs of the existing cultural properties are remarkable examples of early Asian architecture in a capital city and city planning.

6. The particularly elegant forms of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Nara Prefecture prove the continuous force and influence of religion over people's lives.

[Original Japanese]