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Todai-ji
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, is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall (??? Daibutsuden), the largest wooden building in the world, houses the world's largest statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu.
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, is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall (??? Daibutsuden), the largest wooden building in the world, houses the world's largest statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu. The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism. The temple is a listed UNESCO World Heritage site as "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara," together with seven other sites including temples, shrines and places in the city of Nara. Sika deer, regarded as messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion, roam the grounds freely.
History
Roots
The beginning of building a temple where the huge Todai-ji complex sits today can be dated to 743, when Emperor Shomu established Kinshosen-ji as an appeasement for Prince Motoi, his first son with his Fujiwara clan consort Komyoshi. Prince Motoi died a year after his birth.
During the Tempyo era, Japan suffered from a series of disasters and epidemics. It was after experiencing these problems that Emperor Shomu issued an edict in 741
to promote the construction of Provincial temples throughout the nation. Todai-ji (still Kinshosen-ji at the time) was appointed as the Provincial temple of Yamato Province and the head of all the Provincial temples. With the alleged coup d'état by Nagaya in 729, an outbreak of smallpox around 735 - 737, worsened by consecutive years of poor crops, then followed by a rebellion led by Fujiwara no Hirotsugu in 740, the country was in a chaotic position. Emperor Shomu had been forced to move the capital four times, indicating the level of instability during this period.
Role in Early Japanese Buddhism
Under the Ritsuryo system of government in the Nara Period, Buddhism was heavily regulated by the state through the . During this time, Todai-ji served as the central administrative temple for the provincial temples for the
six Buddhist schools in Japan at the time: the Hosso, Kegon, Jojitsu, Sanron, Ritsu and Kusha. Letters dating from this time also show that all six Buddhist schools had offices at Todai-ji, complete with administrators, shrines and their own library.
Japanese Buddhism during this time still maintained the lineage of the Vinaya and all officially licensed monks had to take their ordination under the Vinaya at Todai-ji. In 754, ordination was given by Ganjin, who arrived in Japan after overcoming hardships over 12 years and six attempts of crossing the sea from China, to Empress Koken, former Emperor Shomu and others. Later Buddhist monks, including Kukai and Saicho took their ordination here as well. During Kukai's administration of the Sogo, additional ordination ceremonies were added to Todai-ji, including ordination of the Bodhisattva Precepts from the Brahma Net Sutra and the esoteric Precepts, or Samaya, from Kukai's own newly established Shingon school of Buddhism. Additionally, Kukai added an Abhiseka Hall for the use of initiating monks of the six Nara schools into the esoteric teachings. by 829.
During its height of power, Todai-ji's famous Shuni-e ceremony was established by the monk Jitchu, and continues to this day.
Decline
As the center of power in Japanese Buddhism shifted away from Nara to Mount Hiei and the Tendai sect, and later when the capital of Japan moved to Kamakura, Todai-ji's role in maintaining authority declined as well. In later generations, the Vinaya lineage also died out, despite repeated attempts to revive it, thus no more ordination ceremonies take place at Todai-ji.
Architecture
Initial Construction
In 743, Emperor Shomu issued a law in which he stated that the people should become directly involved with the establishment of new Buddha temples throughout Japan. His personal belief was that such piety would inspire Buddha to protect his country from further disaster. Gyoki, with his pupils, travelled the provinces asking for donations. According to records kept by Todai-ji, more than 2,600,000 people in total helped construct the Great Buddha and its Hall. The 16 m (52 ft) high statue was built through eight castings over three years, the head and neck being cast together as a separate element. The making of the statue has started first in Shigaraki. After enduring multiple fires and earthquakes, the construction was eventually resumed in Nara in 745, and the Buddha was finally completed in 751. A year later, in 752, the eye-opening ceremony was held with an attendance of 10,000 people to celebrate the completion of the Buddha. The Indian priest Bodhisena performed the eye-opening for Emperor Shomu. The project nearly bankrupted Japan's economy, consuming most of the available bronze of the time.
The original complex also contained two 100 m pagodas, perhaps second only to the pyramids of Egypt in height at the time. These were destroyed by earthquake. The Shosoin was its storehouse, and now contains many artifacts from the Tempyo period of Japanese history.
Dimensions of the Daibutsu
The temple gives the following dimensions for the statue:
- Height:
- Face:
- Eyes:
- Nose:
- Ears:
The statue weighs .
Reconstructions post-Nara Period
The Daibutsuden has been rebuilt twice after fire. The current building was finished in 1709, and although immense—57 m long and 50 m wide—it is actually 30% smaller than its predecessor. The Great Buddha statue has been recast several times for various reasons, including earthquake damage. The current hands of the statue were made in the Momoyama Period (1568-1615), and the head was made in the Edo Period (1615-1867).
The existing Nandaimon (Middle Gate) is a reconstruction of end-12th century based on Song Dynasty style. The dancing figures of the Nio, the two 28-foot-tall guardians at the Nandaimon were built at around the same time by Unkei, Kaikei and their workshop members. The Nio are known as Ungyo, which by tradition has a closed mouth, and Agyo, which has an open mouth. The two figures were closely evaluated and extensively restored by a team of art conservators between 1988 and 1993. Until then, these sculptures had never before been moved from the niches in which they were originally installed. This complex preservation project, costing $4.7 million, involved a restoration team of 15 experts from the National Treasure Repairing Institute in Kyoto.
Temple precincts and gardens
Various buildings of the Todai-ji have been incorporated within the overall aesthetic intention of the gardens' design. Adjacent villas are today considered part of Todai-ji.
Some of these structures are now open to the public. The time spent visiting one or more of these less well-known buildings can only enhance an appreciation of the temple complex itself.
Over the centuries, the buildings and gardens have evolved together as to become an integral part of a unique, organic and living temple community.
Japanese National Treasures at Todai-ji
The architectural master-works are classified as:
National Treasures| Romaji | Kanji | | Kon-do (Daibutsuden) | ?? | | Nandaimon | ??? | | Kaizan-do | ??? | | Shoro | ?? | | Hokke-do (Sangatsu-do) | ??? | | Nigatsu-do | ??? | | Tegaimon | ??? |
Major historical events
- 728: Kinshosen-ji, the forerunner of Todai-ji is established as a gesture of appeasement for the for the troubled spirit of Prince Motoi
- 741: Emperor Shomu calls for nationwide establishment of provincial temples; and Kinshosen-ji appointed as the head provincial temple of Yamato.
- 743: The Emperor commands that a very large image Buddhist statue shall be built -- the Daibutsu or Great Buddha; and initial work is begun at Shigaraki-no miya.
- 745: The capital returns to Heijo-kyo, construction of the Great Buddha resumes in Nara. Usage of the name Todai-ji appears on record.
- 752: The Eye-opening Ceremony celebrating the completion of the Great Buddha held.
- 855: The head of the great statue of Buddha suddenly fell to the ground; and gifts from the pious from throughout the empire were collected to create another, more well-seated head for the restored Daibutsu.
Cultural references
Todai-ji has been used as a location in several Japanese films and television dramas. It was also used in the 1950s John Wayne movie The Barbarian and the Geisha when Nandaimon, the Great South Gate, doubled as a city's gates.
UNESCO-sponsored music festival
On May 20, 1994, the international music festival The Great Music Experience was held at Todai-ji, supported by the UNESCO.
The Tokyo New Philharmonic Orchestra, X Japan, INXS, Bon Jovi, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Tomoyasu Hotei, Roger Taylor, classic Japanese drummers, and a Buddhist monk choir. This event, organised by British producer Tony Hollingsworth, was simultaneously broadcast in 55 countries on May 22 and May 23, 1994.
Additional Images
See also
External links
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