Todaji Buddhist temple complex

Tdai-Ji Buddhist temple Complex is also popularly known as Eastern Great Temple. Once, It was regarded as one of the powerful Seven Great Temples and was named as Kinshosen Ji temple. This temple complex is located in the city of Nara, Japan. The temple also acts as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism.

Historical accounts of the Todaji Buddhist Temple Complex

It is recorded that the temple is constructed in the early 8th century CE during the reign of Emperor Shomu. Also, it is recorded that in 741 CE, Japan suffered from a series of disasters and epidemics. Hence, he issued to promote the construction of provincial temples throughout the nation. At that time the Kinshosen Ji temple, the previous name of the Toda Ji temple was appointed as the Provincial temple of Yamato Province and also the head of all the provincial temples.

The construction of the temples was the struggle for Japan since Emperor Shomu had issued a law which stated that the people should become directly involved with the establishment of new Buddha temples. The Buddhist monks, Gyoki along with his pupils had traveled to other provinces for the donations. It had been recorded that more than twenty-six lakhs people helped in the construction of the Great Buddha and its Hall. They contributed rice, wood, metal, cloth, or labor. Around three lakhs fifty thousand people directly involved in the construction of the Buddha statue.

Toda Ji remained as a provincial and administrative temple even in the Nara Period. During the Nara period, Toda Ji served as the central administrative temple and supervises six Buddhist schools- the Hosso, Kegon, Jojitsu, Sanron, Ritsu, and Kusha. The temple was also the officially recognized organization for the monks to take their ordination. The notable Buddhist monks Kukai, and Saichotook their ordination in this temple.

The high power and the position of the Toda Ji Temple declined when the Japanese Buddhism shifted to Mount Hiei and the Tendai Sect. The Vinaya lineage that was associated with the Toda Ji temple also declined. Thus the ordination at Toda Ji Temple also declined and lastly completely disappeared.

Architectural features at the Toda Ji Temple complex

Initially, the Toda Ji Temple complex had the main Buddha temple, Toda Ji Temple which housed Great Buddha and on either side of the temple, there were two pagodas of height 100m. These pagodas were located on the western and eastern side of the temple. The whole temple complex was surrounded by the walled courtyard with four gates. The temple complex experiences heavy loss in the earthquake and other calamities. Almost everything was destroyed but was again reconstructed in the latter period.

The renovated and reconstructed Great Buddha Hall or Daibutsuden has a length of 57 meters and 50 meters wide. The hall houses Great Buddha statue which was also recast for several times. The current Buddha statue's hand were cast in the Momoyama Period while the head of the Buddha was made during the period of Edo.

The southern gate was constructed at the end of the 12th century which is based on Daibutsuyo style. The temple complex also houses two 8.5 meter tall dancing figures of the Nio at the Nandaimon.

Iconography of Daibutsu

The Great Buddha statue is depicted in the seating posture and the hand position is portrayed in Abhaya mudra. The monastic robe covers both of this shoulder but it leaves open space in the middle of the body. Like other Buddha statues, the Great Buddha statue has the Ushnisha in the head and elongated earlobes.

Regarding the measurement, the height of the Buddha is 14.98 m which shoulders are 28 meters apart. The statue weighs around 500 tons. Recently x-rays were used on the Buddha statue which showed a human tooth along with pearls, mirrors, swords, and jewels inside of the knee. It is believed that these relics were of Emperor Shomu.

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