Image and Temple in the Service of the State

Image and Temple in the Service of the State: Tōdai-ji and the Great Buddha Project

Chronology

670 The original Hōryū-ji burns. 689 Rōben is born. 694 Establishment of the Fujiwara capital in the Asuka district. 701 Birth of future Emperor Shōmu and future Empress Kōmyō. 710 Establishment of the Heijō (Nara) capital. 724 Coronation of Shōmu. 730 Kōmyō proclaimed Empress. 734 Shmu orders the copying of the entire Buddhist canon; Kōmyō dedicates statues at Kōfuku-ji. 740 Shōmu journeys to Chishiki-ji in the province of Kawachi, sees a monumental stucco statue of Vairocana there, and vows to make a similar statue of his own. 741 Shōmu orders a system of national monasteries (kokubunji) and nunneries (kokubun niji) established. 743 Shōmu vows to make a giant gilt bronze statue of Vairocana. 744 Work on the Great Buddha is begun at Kōka-dera in Omi province 40 miles north of the Nara capital. 745 Work on the Great Buddha is begun at the eastern edge of the Nara capital on the future site of Tōdai-ji. 747 The casting of the Great Buddha is begun. 748 The statues in the Sangatsu-dō are begun are completed around 752. 749 Abdication of Shōmu and Kōmyō. Accession of his daughter, Kōken to the throne. The casting of the Great Buddha is completed. 751 Completion of the Great Buddha Hall. 752 Dedication of the unfinished Great Buddha. 753 The arrival of the Chinese monk Jian Zhen (Jap. Ganjin) master of monastic regulations (Skt. vinaya). 755 The Lecture Hall and Ordination Platform at Tōdai-ji are completed. 756 Death of Emperor Shōmu; Empress Kmy donates the Emperor's possessions to Tōdai-ji, they become the collection in the Shōsō-in. 757 Completion of the first stage of the Tōdai-ji monastic complex. Ceremony to celebrate the first anniversary of the death of Emperor Shōmu is held at the temple. 760 Empress Kōmyō dies. 764 Kōken vows to found a temple dedicated to the Four Divine Kings and to make 1,000,000 miniature pagodas 765 Former Empress Kōken assumes the throne again under the name Shōtoku. 767 The east and west pagodas of Tōdai-ji are completed about this time. 770 Empress Shōtoku dies. 771 The mandorla of the Great Buddha is completed. 773 Rōben dies. 786 The rear of the Great Buddha begins to fracture. 789 Office for the Construction of Tōdai-ji is disbanded. 794 Establishment of the Heian capital. 803 First repairs are made to the Great Buddha. 827 A mound of earth is erected behind the Great Buddha to prevent it from tipping over. 855 The head of the Great Buddha falls off during an earthquake. 861 The head is reattached and rededicated. 1180 Tōdai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, and Daian-ji are burned by the Taira clan. 1567 The Great Buddha Hall is burned again. 1692 Restoration of the Great Buddha is completed for a second time.

Important Works

Great Buddha, Great Buddha Hall, Tōdai-ji Engravings on petals of the pedestal of the Great Buddha Fukūkenjaku and attendants, Sangatsu-dō, Tōdai-ji "Sakyamuni Preaching at Vulture Peak," BMFA Four Divine Kings, Kaidan-in, Tōdai-ji

Sculptural techniques bronze lacquer hollow dry-lacquer wood-core dry-lacquer clay wood

Important Terms Avatamsaka Sutra Daibutsu Kegon sect kokubunji system mandorla mudra Office for the Construction of Tōdai-ji