Changes

[[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. 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. 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.

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 [[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 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 ''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 Konshô-ji, a temple in its own right, constructed for the monk Rôben prior to the establishment of Tôdai-ji. The building was modified in the 13th century, and a worship hall was added in front of it, their two roofs linked.<ref name=mason6869/>

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/>

===Sculptures===

===Sculptures===

[[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.]]

The Daibutsu at Tôdai-ji, a representation of [[Dainichi]] Nyorai (Vairocana), is the largest bronze Buddha sculpture in Japan. It weighs 250 tons, and is 18.03 meters tall (including the platform; 14.98m tall without the platform). 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 Daibutsu at Tôdai-ji, a representation of [[Dainichi]] Nyorai (Vairocana), is the largest bronze Buddha sculpture in Japan. It weighs 250 tons, and is 18.03 meters tall (including the platform; 14.98m tall without the platform). 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 Daibutsu was repaired quite quickly however; a celebration for the completion of repairs was held in [[1185]], less than five years later.

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.

[[Kuninaka Kimimaro]] (d. [[774]]) was a prominent Buddhist sculptor (''busshi'') of the time who headed a studio established temporary at the temple in order to produce images for the compound. A number of these original 8th century sculptures are housed in the Hokkedô, where fifteen sculptures, some in clay and some in [[dry lacquer]], are organized in a specific [[mandala]]-like pattern around a dry lacquer Fukûkenjaku [[Kannon]] dating to the 740s, and 142 inches tall. Twelve sculptures housed in the Hokke-dô have been designated [[National Treasures]], and another four are [[Important Cultural Properties]]; fourteen of these were created during the [[Tenpyo era|Tenpyô era]] ([[729]]-[[749]]) and are considered precious examples of the style of that era.<ref name=pamphlet/>

[[Kuninaka Kimimaro]] (d. [[774]]) was a prominent Buddhist sculptor (''busshi'') of the time who headed a studio established temporary at the temple in order to produce images for the compound. A number of these original 8th century sculptures are housed in the Hokkedô, where fifteen sculptures, some in clay and some in [[dry lacquer]], are organized in a specific [[mandala]]-like pattern around a dry lacquer Fukûkenjaku [[Kannon]] dating to the 740s, and 142 inches tall. Statues of Nikkô and Gakkô flanking the Kannon, each 81 1/2 inches high, are considered among the finest examples of clay sculpture from this period. This arrangement also includes a pair of [[Nio|Niô]] (Guardian Kings) and set of [[Shitenno|Shitennô]] (Four Heaven Kings) in dry lacquer, each nearly 10 feet tall, as well as dry lacquer sculptures of [[Taishakuten]] and [[Bonten]], each roughly 13 feet in height, all dating to the 8th century, and all considered of great art historical and religious importance. Another set of very significant sculptures of the ''Shitennô'', also dating to the mid-8th century, can be found in the ''kaidan'in''; these are made of clay, rather than dry lacquer.<ref name=mason87>Mason. pp87-93.</ref>

 

Statues of Nikkô and Gakkô flanking the Kannon, each 81 1/2 inches high, are considered among the finest examples of clay sculpture from this period. This arrangement also includes a pair of [[Nio|Niô]] (Guardian Kings) and set of [[Shitenno|Shitennô]] (Four Heaven Kings) in dry lacquer, each nearly 10 feet tall, as well as dry lacquer sculptures of [[Taishakuten]] and [[Bonten]], each roughly 13 feet in height, all dating to the 8th century, and all considered of great art historical and religious importance. Another set of very significant sculptures of the ''Shitennô'', also dating to the mid-8th century, can be found in the ''kaidan'in''; these are made of clay, rather than dry lacquer.<ref name=mason87>Mason. pp87-93.</ref>

 

Another sculpture in the Hokkedô, an image of [[Shukongojin|Shûkongôjin]] (Vajrapani), is of particular significance. Made of painted & gilded clay, it is associated with Kinshô-ji, the temple established for Rôben in [[733]], ten years before even the order for Tôdai-ji's construction. A secret image, held to be especially powerful for its being hidden, this sculpture is only shown once a year.<ref name=mason87/>

Another sculpture in the Hokkedô, an image of [[Shukongojin|Shûkongôjin]] (Vajrapani), is of particular significance. Made of painted & gilded clay, it is associated with Konshô-ji, the temple established for Rôben in [[733]], ten years before even the order for Tôdai-ji's construction. A secret image, held to be especially powerful for its being hidden, this sculpture is only shown once a year.<ref name=mason87/>

It is unclear which of these sculptures were housed in the Hokke-dô originally, and which were not originally designed for the space (nor for this particular grouping of sculptures). There is a degree of consensus, however, that the two Niô, the Taishakuten, Bonten, and Shitennô were likely originally created to accompany the Kannon and Shukongô-jin, and that the sculptures of Benzaiten, Nikkô, Gakkô, and Kisshôten were not. The Benzaiten and Kisshôten were likely moved to the Hokke-dô after the temple's Kisshô-in hall was lost in a fire in [[954]], and the Nikkô and Gakkô sometime afterwards. Finally, the Hokke-dô's sculpture of [[Jizo|Jizô]] dates to the 13th century, and its sculpture of [[Fudo-myoo|Fudô-myôô]] to [[1373]].<ref name=pamphlet/>

A pair of [[Nio|Niô]] guardian figures housed inside the Nandaimon ("Great South Gate") of the temple, the tallest freestanding wooden sculptures in Japan. They were fashioned by [[Unkei]] and [[Kaikei]], along with 18 assistants, over the course of 72 days in [[1203]], using [[yosegi-zukuri|multiple block construction]]. They are unusual in that they face inwards, towards one another, while most guardian statues installed in gates face forwards, outwards from the compound.<ref>Mason. pp187-188.</ref> A number of other sculptures made by Unkei for Tôdai-ji, including one of the [[bodhisattva]] [[Kokuzo|Kokuzô]] and one of [[Jikoku-ten]], do not survive today.<ref>Môri Hisashi. "Unkei: The Man and His Art." in ''Sculpture of the Kamakura Period''. New York: Weatherhill, 1974. p45.</ref>

A pair of [[Nio|Niô]] guardian figures housed inside the Nandaimon ("Great South Gate") of the temple, the tallest freestanding wooden sculptures in Japan. They were fashioned by [[Unkei]] and [[Kaikei]], along with 18 assistants, over the course of 72 days in [[1203]], using [[yosegi-zukuri|multiple block construction]]. They are unusual in that they face inwards, towards one another, while most guardian statues installed in gates face forwards, outwards from the compound.<ref>Mason. pp187-188.</ref> A number of other sculptures made by Unkei for Tôdai-ji, including one of the [[bodhisattva]] [[Kokuzo|Kokuzô]] and one of [[Jikoku-ten]], do not survive today.<ref>Môri Hisashi. "Unkei: The Man and His Art." in ''Sculpture of the Kamakura Period''. New York: Weatherhill, 1974. p45.</ref>

The complex also includes a shrine to [[Hachiman]], which contains a particularly lifelike sculpture in wood by Kaikei, depicting the Shintô deity [[Hachiman]] in the guise of a Buddhist monk. This seated sculpture, in usually good condition with its painting intact, is 34 1/2 inches tall, and dates to [[1201]].<ref>Mason. pp191-192.</ref>

The complex also includes a shrine to [[Hachiman]], which contains a particularly lifelike sculpture in wood by Kaikei, depicting the Shintô deity Hachiman in the guise of a Buddhist monk. This seated sculpture, in usually good condition with its painting intact, is 34 1/2 inches tall, and dates to [[1201]].<ref>Mason. pp191-192.</ref>

==References==

==References==