Page 217 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

Must See
Kokuzo Bosatsu, Komokuten, The hall has unusual
an Enlightened a guardian bracketing and a
Being beam-frame construction.
The striking roof, with its
golden “horns,” was an
18th-century addition.

Tamonten,
a guardian

The legendary
small hole in a
large wooden
pillar behind
the Buddha

The casting of the
Great Buddha in
752 used hun-
dreds of tons of
molten bronze, Nyoirin Kannon Covered walkway
mercury, and Bosatsu, an in compound
vegetable wax. Enlightened Being

INSIDER TIP
Spring Clean
Time your visit with
Todai-ji Ominugui.
Literally translating as
“Wiping Down the Great
Buddha,” this ceremony
takes place on the
morning of August 7. Up
to 120 priests, wearing
white robes and straw
sandals, abseil down
Walking towards the the Buddha’s face,
striking Great Buddha dusting as they go.
Hall at Todai-ji
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