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Within the grid system of [[Heijo-kyo|Nara's]] streets, Tôdai-ji takes up 64 city blocks. However, that large space is actually only sparsely filled with buildings. Many sub-temples or other structures exist today that were not part of the original plans and are much later additions.

Within the grid system of [[Heijo-kyo|Nara's]] streets, Tôdai-ji takes up 64 city blocks. However, that large space is actually only sparsely filled with buildings. Many sub-temples or other structures exist today that were not part of the original plans and are much later additions.

The Daibutsuden sits just south of the center of the compound, facing south. It is eleven bays long by seven bays deep, or 285 x 170 feet, and 154 feet high. Before it lie the ''chûmon'' ("central gate"), and beyond that, directly to the south, at the center of the southern edge of the compound, the Nandaimon ("South Great Gate"). The lecture hall (''[[kodo|kôdô]]'') was located behind the Daibutsuden, surrounded on three sides by the monks' quarters, and connected to the refectory to the east. A set of walls encircled these structures, creating, essentially, three plazas - one before the Great Hall, one behind it, and one behind that surrounding the ''kôdô''. Today, this entire section behind the Daibutsuden is no longer extant, or at least not in that location.<ref name=mason6869/>

The Daibutsuden sits just south of the center of the compound, facing south. It is eleven bays long by seven bays deep, or 285 x 170 feet, and 154 feet high. Before it lie the ''chûmon'' ("central gate"; rebuilt [[1716]]), and beyond that, directly to the south, at the center of the southern edge of the compound, the Nandaimon ("South Great Gate"). The lecture hall (''[[kodo|kôdô]]'') was located behind the Daibutsuden, surrounded on three sides by the monks' quarters, and connected to the refectory to the east. A set of walls encircled these structures, creating, essentially, three plazas - one before the Great Hall, one behind it, and one behind that surrounding the ''kôdô''. Today, this entire section behind the Daibutsuden is no longer extant, or at least not in that location.<ref name=mason6869/>

The remainder of the temple's buildings lay at some distance from the Daibutsuden, outside of its immediate encircling walls (but still within the walls of the compound as a whole). A pair of 330-foot tall pagodas, each with their own encircling walls, stood just south of the ''chûmon'', and to either side of it. These, too, are no longer extant.<ref name=mason6869/>

The remainder of the temple's buildings lay at some distance from the Daibutsuden, outside of its immediate encircling walls (but still within the walls of the compound as a whole). A pair of 330-foot tall pagodas, each with their own encircling walls, stood just south of the ''chûmon'', and to either side of it. These, too, are no longer extant.<ref name=mason6869/>

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 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 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 Daibutsu was severely damaged in the 1181 fires set by the Taira warriors who besieged the temple; its head is said to have "melted and fell to earth, and the "body fused into a mountainous heap."<ref>McCullough, Helen (trans./ed.) ''The Tale of the Heike''. Stanford University Press, 1988. p196.</ref> The sculpture was repaired quite quickly however; a celebration for the completion of repairs was held in [[1185]], less than five years later.

The Daibutsu was severely damaged in the 1181 fires set by the Taira warriors who besieged the temple. The ''[[Heike monogatari]]'' relates that:

 

<blockquote>...the head of that holy image - that face resplendent as a full moon - melted and fell to earth, and the body fused into a mountainous heap. Like an autumn moon, the eighty-four-thousand signs of Buddhahood vanished behind the cloud of the Five Deadly Sins; like stars in a night sky, the necklaces of the Forty-One Stages flickered in the wind of the Ten Evils. Smoke permeated the heavens; flames filled the air below. Those present who witnessed the sight averted their eyes; those afar who heard the story trembled with fear. Of the Hossō and Sanron scriptures and sacred teachings, not a scroll survived. It was impossible to imagine such a devastating blow to the Buddhist faith in India or China, to say nothing of our own country."<ref>McCullough, Helen (trans./ed.) ''The Tale of the Heike''. Stanford University Press, 1988. p196.</ref></blockquote>

 

The Daibutsu was repaired quite quickly however; a celebration for the completion of repairs was held in [[1185]], less than five years later.

Many of the other sculptures at Tôdai-ji are also of great art historical significance.

Many of the other sculptures at Tôdai-ji are also of great art historical significance.