Todai-ji Temple, Nara

Todai-ji Temple is one of the most important Buddhist temples in Nara. Located within Nara Park, it is home to the Great Buddha Hall, or Daibutsuden, which is the world's largest wooden building. Within the Great Buddha Hall is the Great Buddha, or Daibutsu, the world's largest bronze Buddha statue. The temple is one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara inscribed as a World Heritage Sites.

The Todai-ji Temple traces its history back to another temple, Kinshosen-ji, built on the present site in AD 728 by Emperor Shomu for his first son Prince Motoi, who died a year after his birth. Following a series of national calamities, Emperor Shomu issued an edict in AD 741 that provincial temples be built across Japan. Kinshosen-ji became the provincial temple for Yamato Province, and head of all the provincial temples.

The construction of the Great Buddha began around 743, and continued on and off until 751, when it was completed. The "eye-opening ceremony" was done in 752. The project used up almost all the available bronze at that time, and nearly bankrupted the country.

The Great Buddha Hall had burned down twice. What we see today is the one last rebuilt in 1709. This hall is just 70% the size of its predecessor, but it still enormous, measuring 57 meters long and 50 meters wide. Various parts of the Great Buddha had also been recast at various times when it was damaged by natural disasters. The hands, for example, were recast during the Momoyama Period (1568-1615) while the head was recast during the Edo period (1615-1867).

The Great South Gate, or Nandaimon, was also rebuilt. What you see dates from the end of the 12th century. The gate is flanked by two 28-foot-tall guardian figures: Ungyo, which has a closed mouth, and Agyo, with an open mouth.