ARCHITECTUREJAPAN
The Great Buddha Hall of Tōdai-ji

Temples · Historic Buildings

Tōdai-ji Great Buddha Hall東大寺大仏殿

Location
Nara Prefecture Nara
Great Buddha Hall rebuilt
1709

Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

02

Overview

One of the largest wooden buildings in the world. The Tenpyō-era great hall that shelters the Great Buddha.

The head temple of the Kegon school, founded in the Nara period at the behest of Emperor Shōmu. The Great Buddha Hall (Kondō) was twice destroyed by fire in war; the present building was rebuilt in 1709 (Hōei 6).

Though narrower than the original, it is known as one of the largest wooden buildings in the world and is designated a National Treasure. In 1998 it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site as part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara".

This description has been translated from the Japanese original.

Official website

03

Data

Only verified information is shown.

Great Buddha Hall rebuilt
1709
Use
Buddhist temple
Location
406-1 Zōshichō, Nara, Nara Prefecture
Inscribed as World Heritage
1998
Category
TemplesHistoric BuildingsKansai

05

Videos

Related videos (YouTube)

Video titles and channel names are shown in their original language. Copyright belongs to each video's publisher.

OfficialSource: 奈良市動画チャンネル (YouTube)Watch on YouTube ↗

Playing loads the video from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode).

06

Location

406-1 Zōshichō, Nara, Nara Prefecture

Open in Google Maps ↗Get directions ↗Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

08

Sources

References

09

Photo Credits

Image sources, authors and licences

  • 01Daibutsu-den in Todaiji Nara02bs3200.jpg

    Photo: 663highland

    CC BY 2.5·CC BY (Attribution)·Wikimedia Commons

  • 02Tōdai-ji Daibutsuden, June 2019.jpg

    Photo: Cun Cun

    CC BY-SA 4.0·CC BY-SA (Attribution-ShareAlike)·Wikimedia Commons

  • 03Nara Todai-ji Daibutsuden Exterior South Side 12.jpg

    Photo: Zairon

    CC BY 4.0·CC BY (Attribution)·Wikimedia Commons

  • 04Nara Todai-ji Daibutsuden Interior Daibutsu 05.jpg

    Photo: Zairon

    CC BY 4.0·CC BY (Attribution)·Wikimedia Commons

  • Photos have been resized and colour-graded for consistent display. Adapted CC BY-SA photos may be reused under the same licence terms.