Once the Largest Wooden Structure in the World — Todaiji Temple in Nara

The Toadai-ji Temple is a significant temple within the grounds of the Nara Park. I simply took a look of its outside, and did not bother to queue a long line to see the big Buddha statue inside. Suffice to say, the imposing Nandaimon Gate was itself a sight to behold. Meaning the “Great Eastern Temple,” Todai-ji Temple prides itself in the enormous Buddha statue that graces its main hall, the Daibutsuden. The current Daibutsuden was once the record holder for being the world’s largest wooden building. It was a reconstruction in 1692, and it is already a third smaller than the very original Daibutsuden.

The original temple of Todai-ji Temple was constructed in 752 A.D. Emperor Shomu commissioned the construction of this temple to rein in a tumultuous time of epidemic and political chaos. It began as the head temple for all the provincial Buddhist temples of Japan. Emperor Kanmu moved the capital to Kyoto to stay away from the Nara Buddhists that became too powerful. The Todai-ji Temple Buddhists were the ones from whom Emperor Kanmu sought to run away.


The bronze Buddha statue of Todai-ji Temple is 15 meters tall in a seated posture. It represents Vairocana, a universal Buddha in the Mahayana Buddhism tradition.


On the way to the Todai-ji Temple I went through the enormous and imposing Nandaimon Gate, also a wooden structure. On the sides of the Nandaimon Gate inside stand two large Nio Guardian Kings. The fierce looking guarding gods are designated national treasures, like the Nandaimon Gate itself.


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Post by Helen Yu (Chestnut Journal) | Apr 1, 2025