There are many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Japanese city of Nara. Among them is the outstanding Buddhist temple Todai-ji, which is considered the largest wooden structure in the world. It houses a giant bronze statue of Buddha Vairochana.
The construction of the temple began when various disasters and epidemics hit Japan in the 8th century. A strong wind blew off roofs from houses, rains flooded crops. From cold and hunger, diseases appeared, which people began to suffer. It was necessary to urgently call on good forces for help.
In 743, the Japanese emperor Shomu issued a decree, according to which the inhabitants of the city should build a statue of Buddha and ask him for protection. All Japanese were ready to carry out the edict of their emperor. They believed that Buddha would help them.
As later reported in the chronicles, over 2 million people took part in the construction of the Buddha statue and the pagoda around it. The artist and sculptor Kuninaka-no-Muraji Kimimaro created the project of the 15-meter giant. They decided to make the statue from bronze, which was collected throughout Japan and even in China. The sculpture was cast piece by piece and then joined together.
As the Buddha increased in size, the temple under construction also grew. In 745, construction was completed. The temple reached a height of almost 100 meters. It is believed to have been the tallest wooden structure in the world at the time. True, the bronze Buddha was completed for another 6 years. Finally he was ready. Its construction took 500 tons of bronze. It was installed on a pedestal 20 meters high.
People came to the temple, prayed to Buddha, brought him gifts and asked for help. The elements have calmed down, but there is almost no bronze left in the country.
The Japanese still pray to Buddha, ask him for help and protection. The giant Buddha has hardly changed, it is cleaned once a year. The temple itself has become much lower. In 1799, its top was dismantled. They say that the earthquake was to blame. Now the height of the temple is about 50 meters.
Today, Todai-ji Temple is surrounded by a beautiful green park, where deer, which are considered sacred animals, roam freely. The Buddha looks at them with greatness and calmness, who brought to this land, according to the Japanese Buddhists, peace and grace.
