four great temples, The

By Donald F. McCallum

Book Description

In seventh-century Japan, four magnificent Buddhist temples rose from the landscape, marking a pivotal moment when this ancient spiritual tradition first took root in Japanese soil. These sacred structures—Asukadera, Kudara Odera, Kawaradera, and Yakushiji—stood as monuments to a profound religious transformation, yet their stories have remained largely untold in Western scholarship.

Donald F. McCallum invites readers on an archaeological and spiritual journey through these forgotten temples, now existing only as ruins but once serving as the beating heart of Japanese Buddhism's earliest flowering. Through meticulous examination of foundations, tiles, relics, and sacred icons, he reconstructs not merely buildings but entire worlds of devotion and practice.

This scholarly exploration weaves together archaeological discoveries with historical documents, illuminating how these temples evolved over time and shaped the spiritual landscape of an entire nation. McCallum places these sacred sites within their broader political and religious context, revealing how Buddhism adapted to Japanese culture during this crucial formative period.

For those drawn to understanding how spiritual traditions take root and flourish in new cultures, this work offers profound insights into transformation, adaptation, and the enduring power of sacred architecture. The book demonstrates how physical spaces can embody and transmit spiritual wisdom across centuries, even when reduced to ruins.