Todaiji Temple 　東大寺

Todaiji (Eastern Great Temple) is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples,
located in the city of Nara. Great-Buddha, the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha, is known in Japanese as Daibutsu.
The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism. It is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site,
together with seven other sites, including temples, shrines and places in the city of Nara.
Deer, regarded as messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion, roams the grounds freely.


(L) The Great Buddha (Daibutsu) in the main hall (R) Great Buddha Hall ( Daibutuden )


The statue's shoulders are 28 meters across and there are 960 six curls atop its head. The Birushana Buddha's golden
halo is 27  in diameter with 16 images each 2.4 m tall. Recently, using x-rays, a human tooth, along with pearls, mirrors,
swords, and jewels were discovered inside of the knee of the Great Buddha; these are believed to be
the relics of Emperor Shomu. The statue weighs 550 short tons.
Source: Wikipedia


東大寺（とうだいじ）は、奈良県奈良市にある華厳宗大本山の寺院である。 金光明四天王護国之寺ともいい、奈良時代（8世紀）に
聖武天皇が国力を尽くして建立した寺である。「奈良の大仏」として知られる盧舎那仏（るしゃなぶつ）を本尊とする。
奈良時代には中心堂宇の大仏殿（金堂）のほか、東西2つの七重塔（推定高さ約70メートル以上）を含む大伽藍が整備されたが、
中世以降、2度の兵火で多くの建物を焼失した。現存する大仏は、台座（蓮華座）などの一部に当初の部分を残すのみであり、
また現存する大仏殿は江戸時代の18世紀初頭（元禄時代）の再建で、創建当時の堂に比べ、間口が3分の2に縮小されている。
「大仏さん」の寺として、古代から現代に至るまで広い信仰を集め、日本の文化に多大な影響を与えてきた寺院であり聖武天皇が
当時の日本の60余か国に建立させた国分寺の中心をなす「総国分寺」と位置付けられた。東大寺は1998年にユネスコより
世界遺産に登録されている。


Great Buddha Hall ( Daibutuden )

Great Buddha Hall ( Daibutuden ) and Great Buddha

(L)(M) Kokuuzo-Bosatsu (R) Komokuten, one of the pairs of guardians in the Daibutsuden

(L) Goshuin: akusejo (R) Daibutuden, that is viewed from the hillside of Mount Wakakusa.

A road on the hillside of Mount Wakakusa

The Great Buddha (Daibutsu) of Todaiji Temple
　

Nigatsudo 　二月堂

Nigatsudo is one of the important structures of Todaiji, a temple in Nara, Japan. Nigatsudo is located to the east
of the Great Buddha Hall, on the hillside of Mount Wakakusa. It includes several other buildings in addition to
the specific hall named Nigatsudo, thus comprising its own sub-complex within Todaiji. Although the hall was saved
from civil wars in 1180 and 1567, in which the Great Buddha Hall was lost, it was burnt down during the Shuni-e
service of 1667. The hall was rebuilt two years later. The current main hall of Nigatsudo is a designated National
Treasure. The hall holds two Kannons, although both are classified as 'Hibutsu', a secret Buddha, and therefore,
is not publicity shown.

東大寺二月堂は、奈良市の東大寺にある、奈良時代（8世紀）創建の仏堂。現存する建物は1669年の再建で、日本の国宝に
指定されている。奈良の早春の風物詩である,世紀から連綿と継続されている宗教行事,「お水取り」の行事が行われる建物と
して知られる。二月堂は行事用の建物に特化した特異な空間構成をもち、17世紀の再建ながら、当時の作法や習俗ともども、
中世の雰囲気を色濃く残している。


(L) Hokkedo is a National Treasure (8th century).(R) Nigatudo Hall viewed from the east entrance

(L) Goshuin: akusejo (R) The east entrance to Nigatudo Hall

(L) Chozuya ( Temizuya ) of Nigatudo (M) Nigatudo Hall stands on the hill to overlook the city of Nara.

(L) South side of Nigatudo (R) The view of Daibutuden complex of Todaiji temple

Nigatudo and its balcony

Ａ wooden stair corridor to and from Nigatudo

(L) Nigatudo Hall and stair corridor (R) An unlighted torch used for the fire festival at Nigatudo

A peaceful walk between Nigatudo and the Great Buddha Hall ( Daibutuden )

A quite path between Nigatudo and the Great Buddha Hall ( Daibutuden )

A private home of high monk

A spring-time where deer picks grass.

Nigatudo


Shosoin　正倉院

The Shoso-in is the treasure house that belongs to Todaiji temple in Nara. The building is in the azekura, log-cabin style,
with a raised floor. It lies to the northwest of the Daibutsuden. The Shosoin houses artifacts connected Emperor Shomu
(701-756) , Empress Komyou (701-760), as well as arts and crafts of the Tempyo period of Japanese history.
In 1998, Shosoin was listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

正倉院は奈良市の東大寺大仏殿近くにある。屋根は寄棟本瓦葺きで檜を用いた高床式校倉造（あぜくらづくり）の大規模な
高床式倉庫で、聖武天皇・光明皇后ゆかりの品をはじめとする、天平時代を中心とした多数の 美術工芸品を収蔵していた建物で、
1997年に国宝に指定され、1998年に世界遺産（文化遺産）に登録されている。


(L) Shosoin, a warehouse with raised -floor at the Todaiji (R) Azekura style of architecture


Shrine and temples in Nara
Kasuga-taisha Todaij, Nigatsudo Horyuji, Toshodaij Nara Park
Osaka
Osaka, Shitennouji, Dotonbori, Railways in Osaka Tennoji Zoo


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春の東大寺、大仏殿、二月堂、正倉院
執筆　医学博士 宮本順伯
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This information was provided by the Smokefree Hotel and Travel.
The photographs are taken and the article was written in April 2018,
by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D., Ph.D.
Copyright (C) 2018 Junhaku Miyamoto, PhD. All right is reserved.