Overview
Founded by Ganjin, who reached Japan blind on his sixth attempt; its main hall is the only Nara-period one surviving complete.
About this place
Tōshōdai-ji (唐招提寺) is a Buddhist temple of the Risshū sect in the city of Nara, in Nara Prefecture, Japan. The Classic Golden Hall, also known as the kondō, has a single story, hipped tiled roof with a seven bay wide facade. It is considered the archetype of "classical style". It was founded in 759 by the Tang dynasty Chinese monk Jianzhen during the Nara period. Jianzhen was hired by the newly empowered clans to travel in search of funding from private aristocrats as well. Tōshōdai-ji is one of the places in Nara that UNESCO has designated as World Heritage Site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara". A reflection written by Yan Wenjing on the hope for friendly Sino-Japanese relations describing the author's discovery of lotus flowers imported from China which had been planted around the portrait of Jianzhen in the Tōshōdai-ji is included as one of the oral assessment passages on the Putonghua Proficiency Test.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source ja.wikipedia.org ↗Key facts
Founded / opened:759 Highlights / collection:National Treasure Kondo (Main Hall), National Treasure seated statue of Ganjin, National Treasure Lecture Hall Genre:Architecture, Sculpture
Source ja.wikipedia.org ↗Official website
Check the official website for current opening hours, fees and closing days.
Source toshodaiji.jp ↗Before you go
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