Hi everyone, I would like to introduce Todai-ji today.
As I mentioned in my previous article, Nara park is quite huge. Todai-ji is located in the east part of the park. It is not one temple but consists of several temples and the most famous one is "Daibutsu-den" or great Buddha hall which is the largest wooden building in the world.
Once you enter the building, you will be overwhelmed to see the world's largest bronze statue of Buddha.To my surprise, the height is about 15 meters!
By chance, I was able to see an interesting TV program dealing with the history of the Great Buddha several days after I came back from Nara. I would like to write about the episode introduced by the program.
Originally, the statue was established in 752. However, Daibutsu was damaged again and again by an earthquake and by fires. During the Edo era, the Great Buddha was devastated and there was not a hall to keep the statue. Koukei, a Todai-ji monk, saw the Great Buddha on a rainy day when he was 13 years old. He thought, "I have an umbrella with me but the Buddha doesn't have one with him and he doesn't have a house." He decided to restore the statue and build a hall for the Great Buddha. It took him around 50 years to make his dream come true.
I was very impressed with the patience of the monk and found Daibutsu has been respected by the public for years. To maintain these historical buildings and statues is really hard but it is worth doing for our offspring.
＊英語ミニ知識:「奈良から帰ってきて数日して、偶然大仏の歴史を取り上げている番組を見ました。→By chance, I was able to see an interesting TV program dealing with the history of the great Buddha several days after I had came back from Nara. 」「偶然→by chance」＊
この記事へのコメント
kana
I try to write a comment in English.
Your article about Buddha is very interesting!
And I agree with you.
I think we save historical architectures and statues.
I read your artichles
and I have a urge to travel to Nara！
koedo
Thanks for coming.
Yes, Nara is a wonderful place to visit. Let's go there together someday.