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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 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>

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>