The Buddhist temple of Gango-JI temple is one of the seven great temples of Nara. Since 1998 he is a UNESCO heritage site.

The temple was built in the year 588, in Asuka city and was called Asuka-Dera temple. It was founded by Soga-no-Umako, politician, representative of the aristocratic family of Soga and the son of a Minister, who inherited his position. Soga-no-Umako was considered a good speaker, an advocate of reform and a supporter of Buddhism. After moving to the capital of Fujiwara-Kyo, the temple got the name of the Gango-JI temple.

In the plain of Yamato he was the first Buddhist temple and the center of the school Cannon – one of the earliest in Japan. Asuka-Dera temple belonged to the Soga clan and was a small temple, has not yet received the status of state Church and financial support of the Imperial court.

In 718, the temple was transferred to the new Japanese capital Haze-Kyo (modern Nara), were allocated land in the area known as Nara-machi – the residence of artisans and merchants. Now Nara-machi and traditional houses of merchants Mati-I saved as a historic district Nara. After the Imperial court moved from Haze in Heian temple, Gango-JI temple began to decline.

The temple complex consisted of seven halls and pagodas, but due to fire 1451 many buildings were lost. Currently the temple complex of the Gango-JI temple consists of three buildings. The greatest safety in the main hall Gokurakuji, has also survived Zen bathroom and a small pagoda with a height of 5.5 m.

At various times, the temple belonged to different Buddhist schools, including Cannon, Killy, Hossa. The founder of the school of Hossa Doce read in the Gango-JI temple, his sermons in the second half of VII century. Today the temple is administered by the school Waterfall-Shu and is subject to the Todai-JI temple. The gango-JI temple is one of the largest churches in the South.