Main hall of Tōdaiji

Tōdai-ji (東大寺), the Eastern Great Temple, is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. Reputedly the largest wooden building in the world, it houses a giant statue of the Buddha Vairocana (Jp. Dainichi), known in Japanese simply as the Daibutsu (大仏, "great Buddha"). The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism.

History

During the Tempyo period, people suffered from disasters and epidemics. In 743, Emperor Shomu issued a law that the people should make a Buddha to protect themselves. He believed in Buddha’s power could help the people. 420,000 people contributed and 2,180,000 people worked to build it. According to legend, nearly 2,600,000 in total helped construct the Buddha at that time; this number equates to nearly the half of the people in Japan at that time and is probably exaggerated. The Buddha was completed in 751, having consumed most of Japan's bronze production for several years and leaving the country almost bankrupt. The statue has been recast several times since for various reasons including earthquake damage, and the temple rebuilt twice after fire. The current building finished in 1709 although immense is actually 30% smaller than its predecessor. The original complex also contained two 100m pagodas, probably the tallest buildings in the world at the time. These were destroyed by earthquake.

Todaiji was the provincial temple of Yamato Province and the head of all the provincial temples.

Daibutsu at Tōdaiji. Figures in lower right show scale.

On May 20, 1994, the international music festival The Great Music Experience was held at the Todaiji, supported by the UNESCO. Among other artists were the Tokyo New Philharmonic Orchestra, X Japan, INXS, Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan, Hotei Tomoyasu, Roger Taylor, classic Japanese drummers, and a buddhistic monk choir. The event was broadcast on May 22 and May 23, 1994, in 55 countries all over the world.

The size of the Buddha

• Total height : 30 meters
• Sitting height : 14.98 meters
• Face : 5.33 meters
• Eyes : 1.02 meters
• Nose : 0.5 meters
• Ears : 2.54 meters
• Weight : 250 tons

The Buddha is made of gold (440 kg) and copper (499 tons) The Buddha has special hair, like a spiral perm. In total, the hair consists of 966 balls whose diameter are 18 cm and whose height are 30 cm each.

External links

• "The Ancient Capital of Nara and the Old Temple Todaiji (http://www.jgc.co.jp/waza/a1_nara/todaij01.htm)".
• "Todaiji Temple (http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/nara/todaijiindex.htm)".