Tachibana Shrine

Tachibana Shrine is a shrine in Nara Prefecture, a wooden structure standing about 263 centimeters tall that holds bronze images of Buddhist deities within. The design combines a wooden frame with detailed bronze work into one compact religious piece.

The shrine was first documented in a temple inventory dating to 747 and emerged during a period when artistic styles were shifting between earlier and later traditions. Its creation occurred in a formative era of Buddhist art development in Japan.

The interior displays a bronze plaque showing a lotus pond, where three stalks support a gilded bronze group of Buddhist figures. This arrangement connects religious meaning with careful craftsmanship.

The shrine is owned by the Horyu-ji temple complex and can be most easily reached through the temple grounds. It helps to know that this object is quite small and may not always be located in a publicly accessible spot.

The front doors feature painted guardian figures applied with gold paste on a lacquer base, and one of these original doors is now kept in a private collection. This separation means visitors cannot see the complete original design in one location anymore.

Location: Nara Prefecture

GPS coordinates: 34.61506,135.73531

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:48