mofette | (no subject)

The Daibutsu
The Daibutsu is the biggest statue of the buddha in the whole of Japan, I don't know exactly how big the guy is, but my ticket to the place says "length of body : 14.91 metres - 48.91 foot" The Daibutsu is housed in the Todaiji, which is the largest wooden structure in the world. It stands at 48.74 metres, or 159.89 feet. The pictures I took can't even begin to show how big it is when you're there. The back of my ticket said this in English:

Todaiji Temple was built in the Nara period [710 - 794 AD] at the behest of Emperor Shomu [r.724 - 749]. The temple was officially positioned as one of many state-established provincial temples. However, since the chief object of worship of the temple is Vairocana Buddha ["Buddha that shines throughout the world like the sun"], a magnificent temple was built to reflect this importance.
Todaiji Temple serves both as a place of prayer for peace and affluence on earth, as well as a centre of Buddhist doctrinal research. Over the centuries, Todaiji has produced many famous scholar preists.
Todaiji Temple was founded by Bishop Roben, and is to this day the Head Temple of the Kegon sect of Buddhism. The cheif object of worship is Vairocana Buddha, who is also the central Buddha in the Kegon Sutra. The statue of Vairocana Buddha is made from cast bronze, which was then plated with gold. The statue was consecrated in 752, but was damaged and repaired several times in the following centuries. The current hands of the statue were made in the Momoyama period [1569 - 1615] and the head was made in the Edo period [1615 - 1867]. The Great Buddha Hall was burned in the fires of war in 1180 and 1567, and the current building is actually the third generation structure, which was built in the Edo period. The width of the current building is approximately 33% smaller than that of the original structure, but it still ranks as the largest wooden structure in the world.

I actually didn't see the Buddha when I walked in. I took a photo of the altar in front of it, and was wondering why so many people were looking at it, when I finally saw the Buddha. It was soo big I just thought it was a brown wall! There are two smaller [but still impressive] golden Boddisvas [sp?] either side of it and round the back is where all the Shoguns and scary faces are.

The buildings up the bank at the back are also shrines, but mainly Shinto. There are fantastic views from up there, and I seem to be getting an unhealthy obsession with blue roof tiles. I swear I'm going to bring one home!

*goes off to go shopping