Zutō is an exceptionally rare earthen Buddhist monument dating from the Nara period (710–794), located in Nara City, Nara Prefecture. It stands approximately one kilometer south of the Great South Gate of Tōdai-ji Temple. Today, surrounded by greenery in a peaceful setting, this unusual structure offers a fascinating glimpse into the religious architecture of ancient Japan.
The monument has a square base measuring approximately 32 meters on each side and rises about 10 meters high. Its seven stepped tiers create a shape resembling a stepped pyramid. This distinctive design is extremely unusual among Japanese Buddhist monuments, making Zutō an important archaeological site for understanding Nara-period construction techniques and Buddhist art. It was designated a National Historic Site on March 8, 1922.
The unusual name Zutō has long been associated with a legend concerning Genbō, a Buddhist monk of the Nara period. According to the story, Genbō became involved in political conflicts and beliefs about vengeful spirits. He was said to have suffered an unnatural death as a result of a curse attributed to Fujiwara no Hirotsugu, and his severed head was supposedly buried at this site.
The legend appears in the Shichidaiji Junrei Shiki, a record of pilgrimages to seven major temples written by Ōe Chikamichi in the late Heian period (794–1185). Over time, the story became widely known. The monument was originally called dotō, meaning an earthen pagoda. The pronunciation is thought to have gradually changed to zutō, eventually becoming associated with the legend of Genbō’s burial and written with the characters meaning “head mound.”
Modern archaeological research, however, has shown that the story remains a legend rather than an established historical fact. The prevailing interpretation is that Zutō was constructed as a Buddhist monument intended to pray for the peace and stability of the nation.
According to the Tōdaiji Yōroku, a historical record of Tōdai-ji Temple, Zutō was constructed in 767, during the Jingo-keiun era, under the direction of Jitchū. Jitchū was a monk at Tōdai-ji and is known for establishing the temple’s Shuni-e ceremony, popularly called Omizutori, which continues to be held at Nigatsu-dō Hall.
Jitchū is believed to have undertaken the project at the request of Rōben, the head priest of Tōdai-ji, with the aim of ensuring national peace and promoting the flourishing of Buddhism.
Stone Buddhist sculptures were created in various parts of Japan during the Nara period, but an earthen monument of this scale, decorated with numerous stone Buddhist images, is exceptionally rare. Zutō is a remarkable example of this distinctive approach to Buddhist architecture.
Zutō is an earthen platform constructed using the traditional technique of hanchiku, in which layers of soil are compacted to create a solid structure. Its square base measures approximately 32 meters on each side and stands about 1.2 meters high. Each successive tier becomes approximately three meters narrower, with the uppermost tier measuring about 6.2 meters on each side.
The odd-numbered tiers are approximately 1.1 meters high, while the even-numbered tiers are about 0.6 meters high. Together, the seven tiers form a structure approximately 10 meters tall.
The design is thought to reflect influences from ancient Buddhist monuments in India and Central Asia. Shimosaku Ishida, a researcher active during the Shōwa period (1926–1989), described Zutō as an advanced form of pagoda architecture from the late Nara period.
The most distinctive feature of Zutō is its collection of stone Buddhist sculptures arranged on the eastern, western, southern, and northern faces of its tiers. Originally, the monument is believed to have held 11 sculptures on each face, for a total of 44. Today, 22 sculptures have been identified, many of which are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
Most of the images are carved in relief, while some feature incised line drawings. Their subjects include Buddhas, attendant bodhisattvas, and scenes of the Buddha’s final nirvana. One notable feature is that every sculpture includes a carved canopy above the sacred figure.
These works are considered exceptionally valuable examples of stone Buddhist sculpture from the Nara period. Their artistic details provide insight into the religious beliefs and sculptural techniques of the time.
Comprehensive archaeological excavations began in 1986 under the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. Investigations revealed the remains of an earlier, three-tiered earthen monument beneath the structure visible today.
Historical documents, including the Shōsō-in document known as the Zō Nanjisho Ge, indicate that this earlier monument was built in 760, during the Tenpyō-hōji era, by a different individual.
Jitchū’s project in 767 involved substantially dismantling and modifying the earlier structure before completing the monument in its present form. These findings demonstrate that Zutō was not simply built once and left unchanged; rather, it is an archaeological site preserving several distinct phases of construction and modification.
The northern half of Zutō has been restored based on archaeological findings. On its eastern, western, and northern faces, the stone sculptures are displayed in recessed niches protected by small roofs.
The southern half, by contrast, has been preserved in its natural state as the “Zutō Forest,” retaining the appearance it had before excavation. This approach allows visitors to appreciate both the reconstructed monument and the surrounding natural environment while protecting the archaeological remains.
An admission and maintenance fee of 300 yen is required to visit the monument. Visitors should ask at Nakamura Hyōguten, a shop located south of Zutō, for access. If the shop is unattended, entry is not possible.
Special public openings are held in spring and autumn, when visitors can view the site without making a reservation.
To reach Zutō, take a Nara Kotsu city loop bus to Wariishichō and walk for approximately five minutes. Alternatively, it is about a 25-minute walk southeast from Kintetsu Nara Station, a distance of roughly two kilometers.
A visit can be combined with nearby Tōdai-ji Temple and Shin-Yakushi-ji Temple to gain a deeper understanding of the religious life and urban development of Nara during the ancient capital’s heyday.
Zutō is more than an archaeological curiosity. It embodies the faith of people in the Nara period, who used earth and stone to express their prayers for national peace and the continued prosperity of Buddhism.
The serene expressions carved into its stone images and the monument’s imposing stepped form offer a lasting impression of the spiritual culture and artistic sophistication of ancient Japan. For visitors interested in Buddhist history, archaeology, or unusual historic monuments, Zutō provides a rare opportunity to encounter a little-known but significant part of Nara’s heritage.