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An ordination hall, or ''[[kaidanin|kaidan'in]]'', was established at Tôdai-ji in [[755]]; there, the Chinese monk [[Ganjin]], quite possibly the only man in Japan capable of ordaining other monks, ordained 400 people, including [[Empress Komyo|Empress Kômyô]].<ref>Mason. p70.</ref> When Emperor Shômu died the following year, Kômyô established the Shôsôin Imperial Storehouse on the grounds of Tôdai-ji, and donated roughly 600 objects to be held there, including textiles, musical instruments, metalware, and other gifts from [[Tang Dynasty]] China, Korea, and as far afield as Persia.

An ordination hall, or ''[[kaidanin|kaidan'in]]'', was established at Tôdai-ji in [[755]]; there, the Chinese monk [[Ganjin]], quite possibly the only man in Japan capable of ordaining other monks, ordained 400 people, including [[Empress Komyo|Empress Kômyô]].<ref>Mason. p70.</ref> When Emperor Shômu died the following year, Kômyô established the Shôsôin Imperial Storehouse on the grounds of Tôdai-ji, and donated roughly 600 objects to be held there, including textiles, musical instruments, metalware, and other gifts from [[Tang Dynasty]] China, Korea, and as far afield as Persia.

The temple wielded great political influence at various times in its history, particularly in the Nara and [[Heian period]]s, and became embroiled in armed conflict at times as well. Tôdai-ji, along with nearby [[Kofuku-ji|Kôfuku-ji]], came under attack from the forces of the [[Taira clan|Taira samurai clan]] in [[1181]] for this reason; the temple had opposed the Taira both politically, and militarily, fielding forces of warrior monks in support of the opposing [[Minamoto clan]]. The 1181 [[siege of Nara]] saw the destruction of Tôdai-ji, Kôfuku-ji, and [[Gango-ji|Gangô-ji]], and the deaths of roughly 35,000 people. The temples were rebuilt shortly afterwards, however. The Buddhist priest [[Shunjobo Chogen|Shunjôbô Chôgen]] ([[1121]]-[[1206]]) was placed in charge of the reconstruction project, and of organizing campaigns for collecting monetary contributions. [[Saigyo|Saigyô]] became one of a number of prominent figures of the time who went on a journey to the provinces in order to campaign for contributions.<ref>[[Benkei]] and [[Minamoto no Yoshitsune]] claim to be traveling monks on precisely this campaign for contributions for the reconstruction of Tôdai-ji in the fictionalized [[Noh]] play ''[[Ataka]]'' and [[kabuki]] play ''[[Kanjincho|Kanjinchô]]''.</ref>

The temple wielded great political influence at various times in its history, particularly in the Nara and [[Heian period]]s, and became embroiled in armed conflict at times as well. Throughout much of the late Heian through [[Muromachi period]]s, Tôdai-ji was likely the largest landholder and powerholder (''[[kenmon]]'') in the archipelago.<ref>Richard von Glahn, "The Ningbo-Hakata Merchant Network and the Reorientation of East Asian Maritime Trade, 1150-1350," ''Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies'' 74:2 (2014), 273-274.</ref> Tôdai-ji, along with nearby [[Kofuku-ji|Kôfuku-ji]], came under attack from the forces of the [[Taira clan|Taira samurai clan]] in [[1181]] for this reason; the temple had opposed the Taira both politically, and militarily, fielding forces of warrior monks in support of the opposing [[Minamoto clan]]. The 1181 [[siege of Nara]] saw the destruction of Tôdai-ji, Kôfuku-ji, and [[Gango-ji|Gangô-ji]], and the deaths of roughly 35,000 people. The temples were rebuilt shortly afterwards, however. The Buddhist priest [[Shunjobo Chogen|Shunjôbô Chôgen]] ([[1121]]-[[1206]]) was placed in charge of the reconstruction project, and of organizing campaigns for collecting monetary contributions. [[Saigyo|Saigyô]] became one of a number of prominent figures of the time who went on a journey to the provinces in order to campaign for contributions.<ref>[[Benkei]] and [[Minamoto no Yoshitsune]] claim to be traveling monks on precisely this campaign for contributions for the reconstruction of Tôdai-ji in the fictionalized [[Noh]] play ''[[Ataka]]'' and [[kabuki]] play ''[[Kanjincho|Kanjinchô]]''.</ref>

[[Image:Nandaimon.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The Nandaimon, rebuilt 1199.]]

[[Image:Nandaimon.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The Nandaimon, rebuilt 1199.]]