Todai-ji (Todai-ji temple, "Eastern Great Temple") is a Buddhist temple
complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the
city of Nara, Japan.
Though it was originally founded in the year 738 CE, Todai-ji was not opened
until the year 752 CE.
The temple has undergone several reconstructions since then, with the most
significant reconstruction (that of the Great Buddha Hall) taking place in
1709.
Its Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) houses the world's largest bronze statue
of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese as Daibutsu. The temple also serves
as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism.
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Nara sika deer.
Sika deer are found throughout the city of Nara and its many parks and
temples like Tōdai-ji, as they are considered to be the messengers of
the Shinto gods.
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In Nara Prefecture, Japan, the deer are also known as "bowing deer",
as they bow their heads before being fed special "deer cookies" (shika senbei).
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However, deer bow heads to signal that they are about to headbutt.
Therefore, when a human "bows" to a deer, the deer may take it as a
challenge, and will assume the same stance before charging and
attempting to headbutt the person. Deer headbutt both for play and to
assert dominance, as do goats.
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Grand South Gate (Nandaimon).
The Great South Gate is the main gate of Todai-ji.
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The original, erected during the Nara period, was destroyed by a
typhoon during the Heian period.
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The present structure, which dates to the Kamakura period, was built
using what is known as the “Daibutsu style.” A type of construction
based upon Sung Chinese models, it was newly introduced to Japan by
Chogen, the monk responsible for restoring Todai-ji, at the end of the
twelfth century.
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The ridgepole was raised in 1199 and the structure was completed in
1203 along with the statues of the guardian dieties, the Two Nio
housed in the gate.
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The gate with its double hip-and-gable roof is five bays wide and two
bays deep. Originally there were three pairs of doors. The eighteen
giant pillars that support the roof measure twenty-one meters and the
entire structure rises 25.46 meters above the stone plinth on which it
rests.
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The Great South Gate is the largest temple entrance gate in Japan,
suitable in scale to the Great Buddha Hall.
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Nio guardians.
Nio are two wrathful and muscular guardians of the Buddha standing today
at the entrance of many Buddhist temples in East Asian Buddhism in the
form of frightening wrestler-like statues.
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They are usually portrayed as a pair of figures that stand guarding
temple entrance gates usually called Shanmen in China, Niomon in Japan
and Geumgangmun in Korea.
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The right statue (top) is traditionally called Guhyapada and has his
mouth open, representing the vocalization of the first grapheme of
Sanskrit Devanagari which is pronounced "a".
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The left statue (bottom) is traditionally called Narayana and has his
mouth closed, representing the vocalization of the last grapheme of
Devanagari which is pronounced "hum".
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These two characters together (a-hum/a-un) symbolize the birth and
death of all things. (Men are supposedly born speaking the "a" sound
with mouths open and die speaking an "hum" and mouths closed.)
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Similar to Jaya-Vijaya, they signify "everything" or "all creation".
The contraction of both is Aum.
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See more at
Nio - Wikipedia.
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Sika deer near the Grand South Gate (Nandaimon).
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Kagami-Ike Pond and Itsukushima Shrine.
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Main Hall (Kondo).
The Great Buddha Hall is the Main Hall (Kondo) of Todai-ji.
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Built first in the Nara period it has been destroyed twice by fire in
1180 and again in 1567.
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The present structure, dating to the Edo period, was built under the
direction of the monk Kokei.
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The original hall and the one rebuilt in 1195, were both eleven bays
wide; the present structure, however, was reduced in size to seven
bays because only limited funds were available. Nevertheless, the
height and depth of the structure remain the same as those of the
original.
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The Great Buddha Hall is the largest wooden structure in the world.
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Water ablution pavilion (Chozuya).
Chozu-ya or temizu-ya is a Shinto water ablution pavilion for a
ceremonial purification rite known as temizu or chozu
(lit. 'hand-water'). The pavilion contains a large water-filled basin
called a chozubachi ('hand water basin').
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At shrines, these chozubachi are used by worshippers for washing their
left hands, right hands, mouth and finally the handle of the water
ladle to purify themselves before approaching the main Shinto shrine
or shaden.
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This symbolic purification is normal before worship and all manned
shrines have this facility, as well as many Buddhist temples and some
new religious houses of worship.
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See more at
Chōzuya - Wikipedia.
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Bronze Octagonal Lantern (Kondo Hakkaku Toro).
The Octagonal Lantern in front of the Great Buddha Hall dates from the
time of the founding of Todai-ji.
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The distinctive large fire chamber is covered with a sloping roof
surmounted by a jewel-like form.
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It rests upon a stone base supported by a stone post emanating from a
lotiform pedestal.
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The eight panels of the fire chamber are grilles of diamond shapes.
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The four stationary panels are ornamented with celestial musicians
while the four pairs of hinged doors are decorated with lions running
across clouds.
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The conception of the celestial musicians is particularly wonderful
with their lithe poses, well-realized foreshortening of their chests
and their hands that hold instruments, and the movement of the scarves
caught by the wind.
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The post bears an excerpt from a Buddhist text extolling the merits of
lighting lanterns.
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Daibutsuden Pindola Bharadvaja.
Pindola Bharadvaja is an Arhat in Buddhism. According to the earliest
Indian Buddhist sutras, Pindola Bharadvaja was one of four Arhats asked
by the Buddha to remain in the world to propagate Buddhist law (Dharma).
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Pindola is said to have excelled in the mastery of occult and psychic
powers. He was once remonstrated by the Buddha for misusing his powers
to impress simple, ignorant people.
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In Japan, Pindola is called Binzuru, a short form of Bindora Baradaja,
and is arguably the most popular of all the Arhats.
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Statues of him are usually well worn, since the faithful follow the
custom of rubbing a part of the effigy corresponding to the sick parts
of their bodies, as he is reputed to have the gift of healing.
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He is also very frequently offered red and white bibs and children's
caps to watch over the health of babies, so that his statue is often
decked in rags.
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See more at
Pindola Bharadvaja - Wikipedia.
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Sorin.
The sorin (lit. alternate rings) is the vertical shaft (finial) which
tops a Japanese pagoda.
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The sorin of a wooden pagoda is usually made of bronze and can be over
10 meters tall.
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The sorin is divided in several sections possessing a symbolic meaning
and, as a whole, in turn itself represents a pagoda.
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See more at
Sōrin - Wikipedia.
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Entering Todai-ji Temple.
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Vairocana Buddha (Daibutsu).
The Daibutsu is properly known as Vairocana Buddha, the Buddha the light
of whose knowledge and compassion illumines widely.
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Sakyamuni, the Historical Buddha, who was born in the city of
Kapilavastu in India sometime around 580 B.C.E., became a mendicant at
the age of twenty-nine and after spending six years practicing
austerities eventually gained great religious insight at the foot of
the Bodhi Tree on the banks of the Nairanjana River.
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The Avatamsaka Sutra (Kegon-kyo) describes the moment of Sakyamuni’s
enlightenment as his achievement of the condition of a Buddha who
transcends both space and time.
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It describes the world of Vairocana as magnificent, virtuous and grand
and embellished by the various accomplishments of the bodhisattvas.
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According to the text, the songs of birds, the colors of flowers, the
flowing of water and the forms of clouds are all part of Vairocana’s
teachings to save all living things.
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Lotus petal.
On the lotus petals on the base of the Great Buddha are engravings of
the World of the Lotus Treasury (Rengezo sekai), pictorial
representations of the “world of enlightenment” described in the
Avatamsaka Sutra (Kegon-kyo).
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They are beautiful representations of the notion that each individual
is not an isolated existence, but that all phenomena have limitless
connections and dimensions and that the entire universe is enveloped
in the light of Vairocana’s wisdom.
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Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu.
On the Daibutsu's right is the Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu, the Lord of
Compassion and Goddess of Mercy, dating from 1709.
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Guanyin (Chinese: Kuan-yin; Japanese: Kannon; Korean: Gwan-eum;
Vietnamese: Quan Am) is a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. She
is the East Asian representation of Avalokitesvara.
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See more at
Guanyin - Wikipedia.
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Kokuzo Bosatsu.
On the Daibutsu's left is the Kokuzo Bosatsu, the deity of wisdom and
memory, dating from 1709.
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Akasagarbha (Chinese: Xukongzang Pusa; Japanese: Kokuzo Bosatsu;
Korean: Heogongjang Bosal; Vietnamese: Hu Khong Tang Bo Tat, Tibetan:
Namkha'i Nyingpo) is a bodhisattva in Chinese, Japanese and Korean
Buddhism who is associated with the great element (mahabhuta)
of space (akasa).
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See more at
Ākāśagarbha - Wikipedia.
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Bishamonten.
One of the pair of guardians in the Daibutsuden.
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In Japan, Bishamonten, or just Bishamon is thought of as an armor-clad
god of war or warriors and a punisher of evildoers. Bishamon is
portrayed holding a spear in one hand and a small pagoda in the other
hand, the latter symbolizing the divine treasure house, whose contents
he both guards and gives away. In Japanese folklore, he is one of the
Seven Lucky Gods.
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Bishamon is also called Tamonten (lit. "listening to many teachings")
because he is seen as the guardian of the places where the Buddha
preaches. He is believed to live halfway down Mount Sumeru. He is also
associated with Hachiman. Especially in the Shingon tradition that
gives some place and worth to this hybrid character of Bishamon
although most Mahayana temples have Bishamon and his counterpart as
guardians at the entrance gate.
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See more at
Vaiśravaṇa - Wikipedia.
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Komokuten.
The other one of the pair of guardians in the Daibutsuden.
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In Japan, Komokuten is commonly depicted holding a brush in his right
hand and a scroll in his left hand. This iconography was used
primarily in the Tempyo period, and variations appeared after the
Heian period. He is commonly seen wearing Tang period military armor
while trampling a jaki.
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In the Womb Realm Mandala of the esoteric tradition, Komokuten is
depicted as having red skin, holding a trident in his right hand while
holding a fist with his left hand. One variation includes him wielding
a snare.
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See more at
Virūpākṣa - Wikipedia.
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Zojoten and Jikokuten.
The heads of the other two are also on display. They are the Guardians
of the Four Directions or Four Heavenly Kings, each of whom watches over
one cardinal direction.
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They are the protectors of the world and fighters of evil, each able
to command a legion of supernatural creatures to protect the Dharma
(Buddhist teachings).
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See more at
Four Heavenly Kings - Wikipedia.
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Pillar with hole.
In the pillar to the back right of the Great Buddha Halls's giant Buddha
statue is a hole that is said to be the same size as the statue's
nostril.
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It is believed that those who can pass through the hole will be
granted good health and protection from bad luck.
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See also
Sources
Location
