Tôdaiji 東大寺 “Great Eastern Temple” established during the reign of EMPEROR SHÔMU 聖武天皇 (724-756) on an area equivalent to 64 city blocks in the Heijô-kyô (present-day NARA 奈良)

System of state-sponsored temples (kokubunji 国分寺):   Emperor Shômu decided to establish a temple in each provice of the country with government endowments, with Todaiji as the head temple

Hall of the Great Buddha (daibutsuden 大仏殿)

•  hall destroyed twice by fire, rebuilt in 1744.   Current structure only two-thirds the size of the original (fig. 78)

•  Cosmic Buddha, Buddha Vairocana (Rushanabutsu zazô るしゃな仏座像), eye-opening (kaigen kuyô 開眼供養) ceremony conducted by the Indian monk Bodhisena in 752.   Bronze.   Height:   52 feet.

•  Echoes of the original Cosmic Buddha:   Engravings on Bronze Lotus Petals (Daibutsu daiza renben senkokuga 大仏台座連弁線刻画).   756-7.   Bronze.   H: 2 m. (fig. 105)

Hokkedô Hall 法華堂 (also called the Sangatsudô 三月堂), early 8th century (fig. 80, 106)

•  Fukûkenjaku Kannon 不空「」観音 . 740s. Dry lacquer with gold leaf.   Height:   11 ft. 10 in. (fig. 108)

•  Attendants:   Nikko and Gakko. Mid-8th century. Clay, remains of paint; height 6 ft. 9 1/2 in. (2.06 m.) (fig. 109, 110)

•  Shukongôjin. 733. Painted clay; height 68 1/2 in. (fig. 115)

Ordination Hall (kaidanin 戒壇院)

•  Built by the Chinese priest Ganjin 鑑真 (see portrait sculpture, fig. 119)

•  Four guardian kings 四天王 (we have seen them before in the Golden Hall or kondô at Horyuji).   Mid 8th -century.   Clay with remains of paint.   Height:   60 to 64 in.

1. Tamonten (reliquary) (fig. 111)
2. Komokuten (brush and scroll) (fig. 112)
3. Jikokuten (sword) (fig. 113)
4. Zochoten (lance) (fig. 114)

Shôsôin Treasure Repository 正倉院 756.   (fig. 50)

Containing articles which belonged to Emperor Shômu and art objects brought back from China, India, Persia, and elsewhere by early Japanese travelers overseas.

Entertainers riding an elephant on the plectrum guard of a lute or biwa (kizô kôgaku zu 騎象高岳図).   8th century.   Painted leather. (fig. 52)

Lady under a tree (torige risshô byôbu 鳥毛 立 女屏風) detail of a screen panel. c. 752-56.   Ink and color on paper; height:   49 1/2 in. (fig. 51)