Todaiji temple in Nara prefecture is world heritage that is famous for the giant Buddha statue.
The temple was built in the Nara period(AD710~794) and the statue was completed in 752 at the behest of 45th Emperor Shomu(724~749).
Then, the Nara prefecture was center of politics. Disasters, plague, and political confliction were occurred frequently in the reign of Emperor Shomu. So he tried to bring peace in Japan by power of Buddhism. It takes 9 years and 2600000 people were mobilized. (Japanese population in Nara period was 4500000~10000000) The statue was made from cast bronze and plated with gold.
Todaiji and the giant Buddha were destroyed by fire of war twice in AD1180 and 1567. The present temple and statue are 3rd those were rebuilt in 1709. The current hands of the statue were made in the Momoyama period(AD1568~1615), and the head was made in Edo period(1615~1867).
The width of the current building is approximately 33% smaller than that of original structure. But it is the biggest wooden constructions in the world.
The giant statue is holding strange pose. What does it means?
The right hand sign means “Do not afraid” and the left hand sign means “ I’ll grant all your wishes. They are expressing Buddha’s mercy and relief.