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[[Emperor Shomu|Emperor Shômu]] ordered the construction of Tôdai-ji in [[743]], to serve as a national Imperial temple. It was to be the head temple in Japan of the [[Kegon school]] of Buddhism, a school particularly favored by Shômu.<ref>Mason. p59.</ref> The site chosen for the temple was previously that surrounding the hermitage of the Kegon Buddhist master [[Roben|Rôben]]; he would later become the temple's first abbot.<ref name=mason6869>Mason. pp68-69.</ref>
[[Emperor Shomu|Emperor Shômu]] ordered the construction of Tôdai-ji in [[743]], to serve as a national Imperial temple. It was to be the head temple in Japan of the [[Kegon school]] of Buddhism, a school particularly favored by Shômu.<ref>Mason. p59.</ref> The site chosen for the temple was previously that surrounding the hermitage of the Kegon Buddhist master [[Roben|Rôben]]; he would later become the temple's first abbot.<ref name=mason6869>Mason. pp68-69.</ref>
Construction began on the temple in [[747]]; it was a huge financial undertaking for the Imperial Court, and one of the largest temple projects, and Buddhist sculptural projects, in the Buddhist world at the time. Originally known as Kokubun-ji, the temple was renamed Tôdai-ji shortly afterwards.<ref name=pamphlet>"Tôdai-ji Temple, Sangatsu-dô: Hokke-dô</ref> The construction of the temple and of its Great Buddha were a means by which the Yamato state (i.e. Japan) showed the rest of the Buddhist world (mainly China & Korea) its wealth, power, and devotion.
Construction began on the temple in [[747]]; it was a huge financial undertaking for the Imperial Court, and one of the largest temple projects, and Buddhist sculptural projects, in the Buddhist world at the time. Originally known as Kokubun-ji, the temple was renamed Tôdai-ji shortly afterwards.<ref name=pamphlet>"Tôdai-ji Temple, Sangatsu-dô: Hokke-dô," pamphlet available on-site at Tôdai-ji.</ref> The construction of the temple and of its Great Buddha were a means by which the Yamato state (i.e. Japan) showed the rest of the Buddhist world (mainly China & Korea) its wealth, power, and devotion.
The Great Buddha was completed and dedicated in [[752]]. As part of the grand eye-opening ceremony held for the sculpture, Emperor Shômu is said to have officially declared himself "a servant of the Three Treasures of Buddhism."<ref>Mason. p60.</ref>
The Great Buddha was completed and dedicated in a grand ceremony on [[752]]/4/9. Ten thousand monks, four thousand musicians and dancers, and seven thousand officials were in attendance, along with the Indian priest [[Bodhisena]] ([[704]]-[[760]]), who performed the key ritual element of the ceremony by painting in the sculpture's eyes.<ref name=brief>Conrad Schirokauer, David Lurie, and Suzanne Gay, ''A Brief History of Japanese Civilization'', Wadsworth Cengage (2013), 32.</ref> As part of this grand eye-opening ceremony held for the sculpture, Emperor Shômu is said to have officially declared himself "a servant of the Three Treasures of Buddhism."<ref>Mason. p60.</ref>
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 periods]], 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.]]
The ''kaidan'in'' (ordination hall) built in 755, however, is extant, and actively in use. It lies to the west of the Daibutsuden, roughly halfway between it and the outer walls of the compound. The Tegaimon, originally one of three gates piercing the western wall of the compound, is the only original 8th century gate still extant on the grounds. Continuing clockwise around the Daibutsuden, the Shôsôin can be found behind the Great Hall, to the northwest. Two structures originally stood in the eastern portion of the compound: the Nigatsudô ("Second Month Hall") and Hokkedô ("Lotus Hall"). The Hokkedô, also known as the Sangatsudô ("Third Month Hall"), is the oldest extant building on the grounds, and was originally established as Kinshô-ji (or Konshu-ji), a temple in its own right, constructed c. [[740]]-[[747]]<ref name=pamphlet/> for the monk Rôben prior to the establishment of Tôdai-ji (some sources indicate it was built not for Rôben, but for Imperial Prince Motoi, a son of Emperor Shômu<ref name=pamphlet/>). It was previously also known as the Kensaku-dô, after the [[Kannon|Fukûkensaku-kannon]] which was the chief object of worship in the hall; the name Sangatsu-dô ("Third Month Hall") derives from the fact that the hall observed its annual rituals in the third month.
The ''kaidan'in'' (ordination hall) built in 755, however, is extant, and actively in use. It lies to the west of the Daibutsuden, roughly halfway between it and the outer walls of the compound. The Tegaimon, originally one of three gates piercing the western wall of the compound, is the only original 8th century gate still extant on the grounds. Continuing clockwise around the Daibutsuden, the Shôsôin can be found behind the Great Hall, to the northwest. Two structures originally stood in the eastern portion of the compound: the Nigatsudô ("Second Month Hall") and Hokkedô ("Lotus Hall"). The Hokkedô, also known as the Sangatsudô ("Third Month Hall"), is the oldest extant building on the grounds, and was originally established as Kinshô-ji (or Konshu-ji), a temple in its own right, constructed c. [[740]]-[[747]]<ref name=pamphlet/> for the monk Rôben prior to the establishment of Tôdai-ji (some sources indicate it was built not for Rôben, but for Imperial Prince Motoi, a son of Emperor Shômu<ref name=pamphlet/>). It was previously also known as the Kensaku-dô, after the [[Kannon|Fukûkensaku-kannon]] which was the chief object of worship in the hall; the name Sangatsu-dô ("Third Month Hall") derives from the fact that the hall observed its annual rituals in the third month.
When the building was rebuilt by [[Chogen|Chôgen]] in [[1199]], two previously separate buildings were joined; the Hokke-dô now consisted of a worship hall in front, and a main hall directly behind it. It is said that this hall was the site of the first lecture on the ''[[Kegon Sutra]]'' in Japan.<ref name=pamphlet/>
When the building was rebuilt by Chôgen in [[1199]], two previously separate buildings were joined; the Hokke-dô now consisted of a worship hall in front, and a main hall directly behind it. It is said that this hall was the site of the first lecture on the ''[[Kegon Sutra]]'' in Japan.<ref name=pamphlet/>
===Sculptures===
===Sculptures===
====Daibutsu====
====Daibutsu====
[[Image:Nara-daibutsu.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The ''Daibutsu'' (Great Buddha) of Tôdai-ji.]]
[[Image:Nara-daibutsu.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The ''Daibutsu'' (Great Buddha) of Tôdai-ji.]]
At the time of its creation, the Daibutsu at Tôdai-ji, a representation of [[Dainichi]] Nyorai (Vairocana), was the largest cast-bronze statue in the world, at more than 50 feet tall and over one million pounds (500 short tons) in weight.<ref name=brief/>
The current Daibutsu, the product of numerous repairs and reconstructions, is still the largest bronze Buddha sculpture in Japan, at 18.03 meters tall (including the platform; 14.98m tall without the platform), and weighing 250 tons. Its face is 5.33m long, and each eye is 1.02m long. The statue's ears are each 2.54m long, and its mouth is 1.33m wide. The ''[[urna]]'' is 30cm in diameter, and each of its 966 whorls of hair is 21cm high and 22cm in diameter.<ref name=kotoku>"[http://www.kotoku-in.jp/characteristic.html Kamakura daibutsu no tokuchô]." Official website of Kôtoku-in. 2010.</ref>
The body of the Daibutsu was completed in [[749]], but other elements, such as the whorls of hair, and gilding, were not ready until 752. The eye-opening ceremony was held that year, and attended by numerous court nobility, as well as over 370 monks and officials from [[Silla]] (Korea),<ref>Roger Keyes, ''Ehon: The Artist and the Book in Japan'', New York Public Library (2006), 40.</ref> and a number of prominent Buddhist masters from China; there was even (at least) one monk from India who is said to have been present, and to have performed the actual painting-in of the Buddha's eyes. The sculpture's halo (or [[mandorla]]) was not finished until [[771]].<ref>Mason. p85.</ref>
The body of the Daibutsu was completed in [[749]], but other elements, such as the whorls of hair, and gilding, were not ready until 752. The eye-opening ceremony was held that year, and attended by numerous court nobility, as well as over 370 monks and officials from [[Silla]] (Korea),<ref>Roger Keyes, ''Ehon: The Artist and the Book in Japan'', New York Public Library (2006), 40.</ref> and a number of prominent Buddhist masters from China; there was even (at least) one monk from India who is said to have been present, and to have performed the actual painting-in of the Buddha's eyes. The sculpture's halo (or [[mandorla]]) was not finished until [[771]].<ref>Mason. p85.</ref>