Tdaiji

Todai-ji, also written Todaiji, is a Buddhist temple complex in Nara, Japan. It serves as the head temple of the Kegon school and houses the Daibutsu, a monumental bronze statue of Vairocana Buddha. The temple was commissioned by Emperor Shōmu in the 8th century as part of a state-sponsored effort to promote Buddhism and protect the nation. Construction began in the Nara period, and the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) was built to enshrine the statue. Over the centuries the hall and other buildings burned and were rebuilt; the present Daibutsuden is a reconstruction dating to the early modern period, with the statue remaining the central icon of worship.

The Great Buddha statue is approximately 14.7 meters tall and was cast in bronze in the same era as the temple’s founding, later gilded. It represents Vairocana, the cosmic Buddha, and is a landmark of Japanese Buddhist art and religion. Todai-ji is noted for its architecture, especially the Daibutsuden, which is considered one of the largest wooden structures in the world. The complex also includes the Great South Gate (Nandaimon), which houses the Nio guardian statues, as well as the Nigatsu-dō and Sangatsu-dō halls, and other temple buildings.

In 1998, Todai-ji, together with other Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical, cultural, and architectural significance. Today, Todai-ji remains an active temple and a major cultural and tourist destination, reflecting Nara’s historical role as a center of state-sponsored Buddhism in Japan.