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 means "Great Western Temple" and refers to its location opposite Todai-ji on the eastern side of the city. Visitors today see several buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries, rebuilt after the original fires and still used as places for Buddhist practice.
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.
In April, the temple holds a special tea ceremony where participants drink from large bowls so big that both hands are needed to hold them. This ceremony draws visitors from across the region and preserves a centuries-old practice.
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