Changes

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. The construction of Tôdai-ji and 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. The construction of Tôdai-ji and 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 eye-opening ceremony for the sculpture, Emperor Shômu officially declared himself "a servant of the Three Treasures of Buddhism." Art historian [[Penelope Mason]] points out that it would not be until after World War II that an emperor would again put aside their own [[Shinto|Shintô]]-derived divinity to declare their subservience to Buddhism so publicly or officially.<ref>Mason. p60.</ref>

The Great Buddha was completed and dedicated in [[752]]. As part of the eye-opening ceremony for the sculpture, Emperor Shômu 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.

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

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

Reconstruction of Tôdai-ji's ''daibutsuden'' was completed in [[1195]]; [[Shogun]] [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]] visited the temple at this time, offering a sizeable contribution, and paying his formal respects to the emperor. The Nandaimon, destroyed in a typhoon in [[962]], was rebuilt in [[1199]], and survives from that time today. The structures rebuilt at this time, the Nandaimon in particular, incorporated new elements of architectural style, brought back to Japan by Chôgen, who visited China three times between [[1167]] and [[1176]]. The new architectural style he created based on the latest trends in China at that time came to be known in Japan as ''daibutsu-yô'', or "Great Buddha style," because of its prominent use at Tôdai-ji.<ref>Mason. pp185-186.</ref>

Reconstruction of Tôdai-ji's ''daibutsuden'' was completed in [[1195]] and a rededication ceremony was held for the structure; [[Shogun]] [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]] visited the temple at this time, offering a sizeable contribution, and paying his formal respects to the emperor. The Nandaimon, destroyed in a typhoon in [[962]], was rebuilt in [[1199]], and survives from that time today. The structures rebuilt at this time, the Nandaimon in particular, incorporated new elements of architectural style, brought back to Japan by Chôgen, who visited China three times between [[1167]] and [[1176]]. The new architectural style he created based on the latest trends in China at that time came to be known in Japan as ''daibutsu-yô'', or "Great Buddha style," because of its prominent use at Tôdai-ji.<ref>Mason. pp185-186.</ref>

A re-dedication ceremony for the temple as a whole was held in [[1203]],<ref>Mason indicates (p185) that the re-dedication ceremony was held in 1195.</ref> and attended by [[Emperor Go-Toba]].

A re-dedication ceremony for the temple as a whole was held in [[1203]], and attended by [[Emperor Go-Toba]].

The temple suffered damage from fire again in [[1567]], in a battle between the [[Miyoshi clan|Miyoshi]] and [[Matsunaga clan]]s.

The temple suffered damage from fire again in [[1567]], in a battle between the [[Miyoshi clan|Miyoshi]] and [[Matsunaga clan]]s.