Page 198 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

196  JAP AN REGION B Y REGION

Exploring Nara: Todai-ji Temple

A World Heritage Site, the Todai-ji complex consists of
the Great Buddha hall (Daibutsuden), subtemples, halls,
pagodas, and gates of exceptional historical and architectural
interest. It is also the largest wooden structure in the world.
The con struction of Todai-ji, completed in 752, was ordered The 21-m (68-ft) high Nandaimon
by Emperor Shomu, ostensibly to house Nara’s Great Buddha Great Southern Gate of Todai-ji
image but also to consolidate the position of the city as the
capital and a powerful center of Buddhism. Todai-ji Temple
is the headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism.
Natural disasters have not diminished the scale of the
16-m (53-ft) high statue.

Kokuzo Bosatsu
This bosatsu, or bodhisattva –
meaning an Enlightened Being –
was completed in 1752.

Entrance

. Great Buddha
Vairocana
The casting of this vast
statue in 752 deployed Great Buddha Hall
hundreds of tons of
molten bronze, mer - The main hall of Todai-ji was rebuilt
cury, and vegetable twice. The current structure, completed
wax. Fires and earth- in 1709, is only two-thirds of the original
quakes dislodged the size but is reputedly the largest wooden
head several times; building in the world. The seated figure
the current head inside is the world’s largest bronze image
dates from 1692. of the Buddha.
For hotels and restaurants see pp304–5 and pp331–3

196-197_EW_Japan.indd 196 08/08/16 3:07 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm