Description: In the 7th century, Buddhism rapidly spread through Japan after monks from Korea introduced the faith to Japanese royalty. Towards the end of the century Emperor Temmu ordered every family to have a Buddhist altar. After his reign, the next in line ruled that in addition to the family altars, every province should have a temple. In addition, he decided to build a national temple to act as a headquarters for all of the provincial temples. Todai-ji was built to serve this purpose. It is truly an awesome sight, with the Great Buddha Hall perfectly built on a grand scale! Although the building housing the Great Buddha has burned down on a couple of occasions, it has been rebuilt. The last time it was rebuilt was in 1567 and it was actually made 33% smaller than the original structure. The size of the building is nearly overpowering, so to imagine it being 33% larger is somewhat difficult! Currently it is the largest wooden building in the world.
The temple serves as not only a place to pray, but also as a center for Buddhist doctrinal research. Inside the main building are three large sculptures. The centerpiece is the Vairocana Buddha, the largest sitting bronze Buddha in the world. Originally he was made of cast bronze and then plated in gold. Now the gold is gone and all that remains is the bronze cast, which over the centuries has undergone several repairs. Nonetheless, this Buddha is an awesome sight. The sculpture is so well done and proportional that is stunning when you realize just how large it is at a height of nearly 49 ft. His head alone is nearly 18 feet high, and a person can literally fit inside of one of his nostrils.
Inside the temple it is possible to buy fortunes as well as a variety of charms for various causes. The temple is interesting and a great deal of time can be spent exploring the buildings and grounds. Definitely wear a hat or take an umbrella if you plan to visit during the summer. Although it is comfortably cool in the building, the walks outdoors are quite warm! Also, as this is one of the most popular sight in Japan, it can be quite crowded. Take this into account...and if you wish to get a good exterior shot of the main building your best bet is to stand far off to the right.
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