The largest wooden structure in the world, Tōdai-ji, is located in Nara, Japan. The temple was founded by Bishop Roben as the head temple of the Kegon sect during the Nara period. Although Tōdai-ji is still considered the head temple for the Kegon sect, the sect is no longer common and is not considered one of the main Japanese Buddhist sects. Tōdai-ji is currently the largest wooden structure in the world, though it is 33% smaller than the original temple. Over the years, the temple has been rebuilt after fires from various wars, and the current version was built during the Edo period (1600-1867).
Vairocana Buddha is the main Buddha of the Kegon sect, and it is this Buddha that is represented by the Daibutsu, the large Nara Buddha statue. The statue was cast in bronze and plated with gold, sits at over 49 feet tall, and weighs 550 tons. A window at the top of the main temple opens, revealing the head of the statue, demonstrating the height of both the structure and the statue it holds. Similar to the temple, the Daibutsu has been damaged and repaired, with the raised hand being made in the Momoyama period (late 1500s to early 1600s) and the head during the Edo period. Both the Daibutsu and the temple are National Treasures of Japan, due to their size and importance for Japan. |
There is a deer park between temples in Nara. Deer roam
freely, often being fed by tourists, pilgrims, and others. Here, some of our brave students get to know some of the deer. For full-screen click here.
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