Todai-ji Temple
Constructed in 752 on the order of Emperor Shomu, Todai-ji Temple's Great Buddha Hall in Nara is the largest wooden structure in the world and houses an immense statue of Rushana Butsu. |
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Todai-ji Temple's huge Daibutsuden is now
two-thirds of its original size. |
The Daibutsu Hall contains this 14.84 metre bronze statue of the "Cosmic Buddha" (Mahavairocana), later known as Dainichi Nyorai in Japan's esoteric Buddhism. |
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The Great Buddha (Daibutsu) at Todai-ji
Temple. |
The Great Buddha (Daibutsu) weighs 500 metric tonnes. |
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The Great Buddha (Daibutsu) at Todai-ji
Temple. |
In 784, Emperor Kammu moved the capital from Heijo-kyo (Nara) to Nagaoka and then Heian-kyo (Kyoto) to escape the meddlesome influence of the powerful Nara temples on affairs of state. However, Todai-ji Temple had close links with the imperial family and nearby Kofuku-ji was the clan temple of the powerful Fujiwaras, so both continued to exert some influence on the court. |
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Ornamental butterfly on
the huge lotus vase in Todaiji Temple's main hall. |
The Daibutsu Hall contains a number of important sculptures and more can be found at the temple's nearby Hokkedo (Lotus Hall) and Kaidan-in (Ordination Hall). |
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Todaiji Temple's statue of Komoku-Ten, the Guardian King of the South,
holding a writing brush and scroll symbolizing the copying of
sutras. |
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One of the nio guarding Todaiji Temple. |
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Todaiji Temple's Daibutsu Hall in the rain. |
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View from the entrance of Todaiji Temple's Daibutsu Hall. |
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Nyorin Kannon in Todaiji Temple's Daibutsu Hall. |
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Crows in the Deer Park outside Todaiji Temple. |
