Tōdai-ji (Japanese: 東大寺, literally meaning Eastern Great Temple) is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara (奈良), Japan. The temple is over 1,200 years old, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.
Todai-ji was originally founded in 738, then it had been rebuilt twice, the current building was finished in 1709.
The main hall of the temple is 57 metres long, 50 metres wide and 49 metres high, it is actually 30% smaller than its predecessor due to lack of funds.
Until 1998, the main hall of Tōdai-ji was the world's largest wooden building. It has been surpassed by Japanese baseball stadium 'Odate Jukai Dome', amongst others.
The Great Buddha statue is 15 metres high and weighs 500 tonnes, it has been recast several times for various reasons, including earthquake damage.
The statues of Bodhisattva and guardians around the Great Buddha statue are well preserved, also the must see in the temple.
Buddha’s Nostril is a small square hole in the base of one of the temple’s great wooden pillars, it is said that this hole can grant a degree of enlightenment in the next life to any worshipper who can fit through it.
