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Todai-ji

Religious and Sacred Buildings

Todai-ji is a Buddhist temple complex in the city of Nara, Japan, once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, founded in 738 CE though not opened until 752 CE in an attempt to imitate the much admired temples of Tang dynasty China. The temple has undergone several reconstructions, including a nineteenth century near collapse under the weight of its huge roof that was halted by restoration from 1904 to 1913 and a later rebuilding in steel framing between 1974 and 1980; its Great Buddha Hall houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, and the temple is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site among the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.

Facts
Building TypeSourced to the subject's own account
Buddhist Temple Complex 1
LocationSourced to the subject's own account
Nara, Japan 1
Completed YearSourced to the subject's own account
752 1
Height (m)Sourced to the subject's own account
49 1
Classification
Standing StatusSourced to the subject's own account
Standing 1
Building Type
Building Type (category)
Temple / Shrine 2
Connections

Has Building Type

Temple, Concepts

In Style

Japanese Traditional Architecture, Styles and Movements

A landmark of Japanese traditional architecture.

Uses Element

Timber, Architectural Materials
Source Todai-ji (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Located In

Japan

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is located.

Source Todai-ji (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia articletier 3
Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article
Tōdai-ji (東大寺, 'Eastern Great Temple') is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan.
Sources
1. Todai-ji (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • opening sentence, Todai-ji Wikipedia article
    is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan.
  • Architecture, Initial construction section, eye-opening ceremony sentence
    A year later, in 752, the eye-opening ceremony was held with an attendance of 10,000 monks and 4,000 dancers to celebrate the completion of the Buddha.
  • Architecture, Reconstructions post-Nara Period section, Great Buddha Hall dimensions sentence
    The current building was finished in 1709, and although immense-57 metres (187 ft) long, 50 metres (160 ft) wide and 49 metres (161 ft) high-it is actually 30% smaller than its predecessor, being reduced from 11 to 7 bays wide due to lack of funds.
  • Lead section
    Though it was originally founded in the year 738 CE, Tōdai-ji was not opened until the year 752 CE.
  • Uses Element: Timber, Article text
    At this time, a new change occurred in the wooden structure of the Great Buddha Hall.
View the Source
2. Tōdai-ji (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia "Tōdai-ji" intro (read live, w-fk-arch-rel2-0927c, R-K)View the Source
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