Saidai-ji, Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan.
Saidai-ji is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan, comprising several main buildings and smaller halls across a spacious compound. The central area includes the Hondo main hall, the Shio-do building from 1674, and the Aizen-do hall constructed in 1762, each connected by pathways and gardens.
Empress Koken founded the temple in 765 as a western counterpart to Todai-ji, making it one of the seven major temples of Nara. The monk Eison revived the site in the 13th century and created a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in 1249 that remains venerated today.
The name "Saidai-ji" sets it against Tōdai-ji, the Great Eastern Temple, as its western counterpart. The temple holds the Shōgatsu Daichamō, a New Year ceremony in which participants drink matcha from bowls up to about 30 cm across, a practice begun by Eison to offer tea to the poor. The Shingon Ritsu sect, founded here in 1895, emphasizes precepts and social welfare.
The compound is a short walk from Yamato-Saidaiji Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line, also served by bus numbers 12 and 14. Most buildings are accessible during daylight hours, and the paths between halls pass through quiet gardens.
The temple's Great Tea Offering (Ochamori) is held in April and October, when participants drink from bowls up to 30 cm across and 15 cm deep, holding them with both hands. The practice began in 1239 when Eison offered tea to the monks and has continued for over 780 years.
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