Let’s
now take a tour of Hôryûji as it survives today. Since written
records are few, we have only the evidence of the temple itself to guide
us through its many riddles. The basic plan is a cloistered courtyard which
you enter from the south through the large two-storied gate in front, the
so-called Middle Gate to which we will return later. Inside the courtyard
stands the pagoda on the left and the Golden Hall on the right. Let’s begin
with the pagoda.