Tōdai-ji

The Todai -ji (Japanese东大寺, literally: Eastern Great Temple ) is a Buddhist temple in the Japanese city of Nara. It is home to the largest Buddhist bronze statue. The main hall is equipped with a width of 57.01 meters, a depth of 50.48 meters and a height of 48.74 meters, the largest pure -built wooden building in the world.

The statue of the Great Buddha (Japanese大 仏daibutsu ) represents Buddha Vairocana (Japanese Birushana, or Dainichi ); they located in the largest hall of Todai -ji (大 仏 殿Daibutsuden ), which was rebuilt in 1708, originally but still should have been greater by one-third. The cast bronze figure alone is 16.2 m high, 452 tons in weight and with base 30 m high. In the temple there is also a shrine of the Shinto deity Hachiman, which was declared in the Nara period ( 710-794 ) for the protection of God the Great Buddha. Also noteworthy is the entrance gate ( Nandaimon ) from the year 1199 with the two 8.5 m high guardian statues (NIO ). The investment of the Todai -ji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History

The temple was built in 745 in the Nara period by order of Emperor Shōmu moved, the Buddha was completed in 751. Kaiser Shōmu moved wanted to rule over a kingdom, ruled by the principle of harmony and the Buddhist Law.

A devastating smallpox epidemic 735-737, which wiped out a third of the population of Japan, prompted Shōmu moved to establish in each province government monasteries and convents with large Buddha images. 741 gave the Emperor a decree which provided for the establishment of a nationwide network of provincial monasteries (国 分 寺Kokubun - ji国 分 尼 寺Kokubuni -ji ), the Todai -ji was the main temple of the Kokubun -ji. He and the other monasteries should bring the state and the population prosperity and above all protect against disasters such as earthquakes, fires and crop failures.

Daibutsu

The creation of the giant Buddhas, the central figure of the temple, beyond the powers of the country. The 15 meter tall meditating Vairocana ( Cosmic Buddha) consists of 450 tons of copper; 50,000 carpenters and 37,000 metal smiths were needed to its construction. Hill had to be leveled for the site and the wooden building, which was built around him, dominating the landscape for miles. Such a display of Buddhist power lay entirely in the Emperor's intention. After several futile attempts to create the statue of a piece, finally succeeded the Korean metalsmith Kuninaka Kimimaro († 775), to build the figure from separately cast sections. Apart from the technical difficulties still made ​​the lack of material sensitive noticeable.

Difficulties religious- political nature were added. An adjustment of the ratio of Shinto and Buddhism were urgently. One legend from the 14th century GENKO Sakusho According to the priest Gyōgi ( 668-749 ;行 基) have brought at the behest of the emperor a relic for Daijingu in Ise, where he is said to have received the oracle after seven days, that Vairocana ( jap. Dainichi = large sun ) and the sun goddess Amaterasu are consubstantial. So who serve the Buddha, used also to Japanese master -goddess, at the time when the legend popular projection of the kami - Buddhist syncretism ( Shinbutsu - shugo ) in the past.

In the year 749 AD, was discovered in Japan gold. "When we heard about it ," said Shōmu moved, " we were amazed and delighted. " He interpreted the finding as a favorable omen. Now he could let gild the monument with local metal. 749, the statue was completed. The Augenöffnungszemonie 752 was led by the first abbot of the temple robes, it will have over 10,000 guests arrived, many from abroad, participated.

Besides the Kegon four other Buddhist schools were still encouraged to use the Todaiji also as a seat. These five were thus the first of the six schools of Nara. The last of the schools, Ritsu, was also a smart move Shōmus. He invited the monk Ganjin from China, where the vinaya ( Japanese: Ritsu ) brought. This Hinayana imputed group deals with the monastic rules. The Ritsu, were also in Todaiji, all official ordinations betrayed. Also Shōmu moved could be ordained a second time; the legality of an ordination was always most important concern for Buddhists. The power increase, the Buddhist establishment gained through all these policies led to the fact that after 760 the monk Dokyo, as a lover of Empress Shōtoku, appointed by her to the Dharma ruler ( hō - ō ), won excessive political influence. The following return of the imperial house to themselves led to the end of the Nara period. The Nara schools have not been granted access to the new capital of Heian - kyō. The temple is still the main temple of the Kegon sect.

Twice destroyed fire the huge hall in Heijo - kyō (modern Nara ), once in 1180 in the turmoil at the end of the Heian period, and then in 1567 in the turmoil of the Sengoku period. In this case, corrections are made to the figure, several times. 1692 - over a hundred years had the Daibutsu no roof over their head - laid the foundation for today's Hall, adjusted the beginning of the 18th century, the style of the Edo period, was completed. Today's hall is significantly smaller than the predecessor, but slightly higher.

Today, the temple grounds also serves cultural events. On 20 May 1994, the international music event The Great Music Experience was held here, in among others, the Tokyo New Philharmonic Orchestra, X Japan, INXS, Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan, Tomoyasu Hotei, Roger Taylor, classic Japanese drummers, and a 100 - member choir from Buddhist monks occurred. The concert was shown on television in 55 countries.

Statue of Arhat Pindola

On the right is a weathered wooden statue of Arhat Pindola - Bhāradvāja from the 18th century next to the entrance to the main hall. Pindola was one of the 16 Arhats, should have dealt with witchcraft and must therefore be left out of the temple. When you touch a body part of the statue and then rubs to their own corresponding body part, disease to be cured in this body part.

Important Festivals & Events

• From 1st - 14th March was listed Shunie the ceremony ( Water - Drawing Ceremony ).
• In April, the yae - zakura, a double cherry blossom explode on the trees. From the government, they were classified as a natural treasure.