Todai-ji Temple

Daibutsu-den

東大寺大仏殿

Home to Japan’s

Great Buddha

For more than 1,200 years, Todai-ji Temple Daibutsu-den has stood as one of Japan's most important Buddhist landmarks. Commissioned during the reign of Emperor Shōmu, the temple was built as part of a nationwide effort to promote Buddhism and pray for the peace and protection of the state. At its heart is the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), a monumental bronze image of Vairocana Buddha that symbolizes both religious devotion and the cultural achievements of the Nara period.

Standing over 15 meters (49 feet) tall, the Great Buddha remains one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world. The present Great Buddha Hall is among the world's largest wooden buildings and continues to impress visitors with its remarkable scale and architectural craftsmanship.

Today, Todai-ji is the head temple of the Kegon school of Buddhism and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara. For visitors, Daibutsu-den offers an essential introduction to the history, architecture, and Buddhist heritage of Japan's ancient capital.

A large traditional Japanese temple with many visitors walking towards it on a sunny day. The temple is multi-storied with a curved roof and intricate wooden details. There are trees and a clear blue sky in the background.
Large black Buddha statue inside a wooden temple, with a multi-layered gold background, surrounded by plants and decorative items on an altar.
Close-up of a large bronze Buddha statue inside a wooden temple, with the Buddha's right hand raised in a gesture of blessing and the left hand resting on the lap, intricate gold decorations behind.
Large, gold-colored statue of a seated figure inside a traditional Japanese temple, surrounded by wooden pillars and ornate decorations, with offerings placed in front.
Inside a traditional wooden temple, a large wooden statue of a fierce warrior deity stands on a platform, surrounded by tall wooden pillars and beams.
A tall, ornate wooden statue of a warrior or deity inside a temple with traditional wooden architecture, visible wooden beams and lattice windows.
A traditional Japanese temple with a large entrance gate featuring red pillars and a multi-tiered roof, people walking around the temple grounds, under a partly cloudy sky.
A traditional Japanese temple with a wooden structure, surrounded by trees and a grassy area, under a cloudy sky.
Traditional Japanese wooden temple gate with people walking and trees surrounding it.
Large statue of a warrior with a headdress, holding a spear, surrounded by a metal mesh cage.
A large stone sculpture of a religious figure, possibly a saint or angel, behind a protective wire mesh at a historical or religious site.
A small red wooden shrine or torii gate on a grassy hill near a body of water, with trees surrounding it and their reflections visible in the water.
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