This article discusses recent archaeological research on early Buddhist temples related to the immigrants from the Korean peninsula located in ?saka, ?tsu, T?goku, Kibi in order to understand their influence on early Buddhist culture in Japan.
The second section deals with the temples connected to the Baekje immigrants located in the ?saka region. Its major sites include Kudarano Kohori of Setsuno Kuni, the place where a royal descendant of Baekje kingdom named Seongwang resided, and Shitenn?ji Temple and Naniwano Miya Palace. In addition, T?gashi Haichi near the Uehonmachi area is known as a Baekje temple, and the finds from recent excavations conducted in Saikutani and Kuwatsu sites are notable in this regard. It is also worth noting that a mid-seventh century building with its foundation made of roof tiles was excavated in the Shitenn?ji site in ?saka. In addition, the lecture hall in this temple resembles the two-room building type found in the Baekje temples. These finds suggest that the exchange between this region and Baekje predates the fall of Baekje.
The third section examines the Buddhist temples related to the Baekje immigrants in the ?tsu region. According to the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan), a flux of Baekje immigrants settled down in Kanjakigun and Kam?gun in ?mikuni. Excavations of the temple sites revealed several architectural elements that are not found in Asuka and other regions, and they include Kodou-style roof-end tiles, buildings with roof tile foundation, etc. As these features are mostly dated to the latter half of the seventh century, scholars believed that they were related to the migration of Baekje people recorded in the historical texts. However, this supposition appears questionable, as other features of the temples such as the new types of roof tiles have no comparable examples in Baekje. In the case of the roof tile foundation, it is possible that they were adopted before the collapse of Baekje, and thus it should be understood as the result of wider distribution rather than new adoption after the Battle at Baekchon River.
The fourth section discusses the immigrants-related temples in the Togoku and Kibi regions. In the case of Togoku, historical records inform us of the immigrants from Goguryeo and Silla in addition to those from Baekje. Terayatsu Haichi is an important Baekje-related site in this region. It is highly likely that this region had direct contact with Baekje in the early seventh century, and the roof tiles with inscriptions are the sole evidence for this relation. As for the Kibi region, Teramachi Haichi site, which is presumed to have been Mitanidera deserves attention. The site yielded characteristic roof tiles referred to as “water drop-shaped tiles.” Although this type of tiles was not found in the Baekje sites, similar tiles were discovered in Nanjing, suggesting a possibility that it was transferred to Japan via Baekje.