Great Buddha Hall

The Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji Temple in Nara is the largest ancient wooden building in the world. The first Great Buddha Hall was completed in 758 AD and was destroyed by fire in 1180. The second Great Buddha Hall was completed in 1195 and was burned down again in 1567. The third Great Buddha Hall was completed in 1709 and is the one that still stands today. The Great Buddha inside the hall is Vairocana Buddha, which has been damaged and repaired many times. The current statue was repaired during the Edo period, and only a small part of the Buddha's abdomen and lotus seat are original. The Great Buddha is 15 meters tall and was cast using 437 tons of bronze and 130 kg of gold. Walk around the statue and you will find a hole at the bottom of a round wooden pillar. Legend has it that if you can pass through this hole, which is the same diameter as one of the Great Buddha's nostrils, you will achieve enlightenment. Children usually line up here to take turns trying, while their parents are busy taking photos.