Saidai-ji

The Saidai -ji (西 大寺Japanese ) is a Buddhist temple in the Japanese city of Nara. The "Western Great Temple " was built as a counterpart to the Todai -ji ( "eastern great temple " ) in the year 765 on the orders of Shōtoku - tennō in the former capital of Japan Heijo - kyō.

In the Nara period the Saidai -ji was a center for Sanron studies. In the Heian period, the temple came under the control of Kōfuku -ji the Hosso shū.

Under the Shingon monk Eison (睿 尊; 1201-90 ), the Shingon Ritsu movement (consisting of Shingon and Ritsu studies) initiated in the Kamakura period, the Saidai -ji a center for Vinaya studies. Eison was there replaced as chief by his pupil Shinku (信 空).

In the Meiji period, the temple was completely independent and recognized as the head temple of the Shingon Ritsu own school (真言 律宗) advanced movement.

One of the most popular ceremonies at Saidai -ji is a native of the Kamakura period tea ceremony called Ō- Chamori (大 茶 盛), which takes place on the second Sunday in April and the previous Saturday and the second Sunday in October. This Matcha (> 50 cm diameter) prepared in oversized tea cups with huge Chasen (茶 筅).