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Living sacred site

Statue of Genjo, Yakushi-ji

Nara, Japan · Buddhism · Sacred statue

The Statue of Genjō at Yakushi-ji stands in the Genjō Sanzō-in precinct, linking Xuanzang's memory, relic veneration, and Hossō lineage devotion.

Explore sacred sites in JapanCheck official visitor information
Northern Genjō Sanzō-in precinct at Yakushi-ji in Nara.
Photo by ZaironSourceCC BY 4.0
GeographyAsia · Japan
TraditionBuddhism
EvidenceLiving sacred site
SeasonSpring and autumn
AccessManaged worship and visitor access

At a glance

How to read this place: Present the statue through Genjō Sanzō-in, then connect it to relic memory and Yakushi-ji's lineage story.

Plan your visit

A memorial statue where a Chinese pilgrim-translator becomes part of Yakushi-ji's living Hossō identity.

LocationNara, Japan
Getting thereNara / Nishinokyō
Best seasonSpring and autumn
Best time of dayMorning or late afternoon for quieter movement between Yakushi-ji precincts
Typical visit45-90 minutes as part of a Yakushi-ji hall and Genjō Sanzō-in visit
Physical difficultyTemple walking with courtyards, thresholds, protected interiors, and standing time
AccessibilityUse Yakushi-ji's official guidance for current access to Genjō Sanzō-in and related halls.
AccessManaged worship and visitor access
Official informationCheck current visitor information
OrientationExpect temple walking, hall rules, protected interiors, and possible limits around close viewing or photography.
How it fits a routePair it with Amida Triad and Other Paintings, Yakushi-ji and East Pagoda, Yakushi-ji to keep the Japan cluster clear.
Visit the statue with the wider Genjō Sanzō-in complex so the image, relic, and precinct form one story.
Pair the stop with Yakushi-ji's older halls to see how ancient temple identity and later lineage memory meet.
See the statue together with the Genjō Sanzō-in complex and its memorial setting.
Connect the stop with Yakushi-ji's Hossō identity before returning to the main precinct.

Respect essentials

DressDress respectfully for an active Buddhist temple.
PhotographyFollow posted rules around halls, images, relic areas, and protected interiors.
Ritual restrictionsGive worshippers, ceremonies, priests, and temple staff priority.

What stands out

The Statue of Genjō has relic memory beneath it.
Genjō Sanzō-in is dedicated to Genjō and the Hossō lineage.
The northern Genjō Sanzō-in precinct gives the statue a dedicated memorial setting.

Why this place matters

The statue connects Genjō's memory with a relic placed beneath it in the Genjō Sanzō-in precinct.

The complex keeps Yakushi-ji's Hossō lineage visible inside the Ancient Nara temple landscape.

Story and context

History and sacred context

Yakushi-ji belongs to the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara property.

Genjō Sanzō-in adds a Hossō lineage memorial layer to Yakushi-ji's temple sequence.

The statue's relic setting gives the northern precinct a focused devotional center.

FAQ

Who is Genjō at Yakushi-ji?Genjō is the Japanese name for Xuanzang, whose memory is honored in Yakushi-ji's Genjō Sanzō-in complex.
Why is the statue important?The statue connects Genjō's image, relic memory, and Yakushi-ji's Hossō lineage in one memorial precinct.

Sources

  • Official websiteOfficial sitePrimary visitor-facing site for current access and institutional context.
  • UNESCO entryUNESCO World Heritage CentrePrimary authority source for Ancient Nara as a sacred urban landscape of Buddhist temple precincts, a Shinto shrine, and a sacred forest.
  • Wikipedia entryWikipediaWikipedia article for Yakushi-ji Temple.
  1. Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (Property 870)UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Heritage authorityPrimary authority source for Ancient Nara as a sacred urban landscape of Buddhist temple precincts, a Shinto shrine, and a sacred forest.Accessed 2026-04-23
  2. Yakushi-ji Temple (Q945913)Wikidata · Entity referenceParent entity anchor for Yakushi-ji as a Buddhist temple and component of the Ancient Nara world heritage property.Accessed 2026-04-23
  3. Category:YakushijiWikimedia Commons · Media sourceVisual context for Yakushi-ji, its courts, halls, pagodas, and wider precinct.Accessed 2026-04-23
  4. Toindo, Yakushiji (Q107020543)Wikidata · Entity referenceEntity anchor for Toindo as a National Treasure hall within Yakushi-ji.Accessed 2026-04-23
  5. File:Yakushiji Nara08n4592.jpgWikimedia Commons · Media sourceCommons visual anchor for Toindo at Yakushi-ji, including file metadata that identifies the hall as a National Treasure within the world heritage precinct.Accessed 2026-04-23
  6. ToindoYakushiji Temple · Official siteOfficial Yakushi-ji page describing Toindo as an early hall with memorial purpose and a long devotional history.Accessed 2026-04-23
  7. Category:Genjo-sanzoin, YakushijiWikimedia Commons · Media sourceVisual context for the Genjo Sanzoin precinct and its buildings within the northern area of Yakushi-ji.Accessed 2026-04-23
  8. Genjo Sanzoin ComplexYakushiji Temple · Official siteOfficial Yakushi-ji page describing the Genjo Sanzoin Complex as a group of buildings dedicated to Genjo and the Hosso lineage.Accessed 2026-04-23
  9. Category:Jikido, YakushijiWikimedia Commons · Media sourceVisual context for the reconstructed Jikido at Yakushi-ji and its scale within the precinct.Accessed 2026-04-23
  10. JikidoYakushiji Temple · Official siteOfficial Yakushi-ji page describing the Jikido as the monks' dining hall and its present use for religious ceremonies, symposiums, concerts, and exhibitions.Accessed 2026-04-23
  11. The Statue of GenjoYakushiji Temple · Official siteOfficial Yakushi-ji page describing the Statue of Genjo, the relic placed below it, and its memorial meaning within the Genjo Sanzoin Complex.Accessed 2026-04-23
  12. Yakushi-ji TempleWikipedia · Entity referenceWikipedia article for Yakushi-ji Temple.Accessed 2026-04-25

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