Great Buddha Hall, Buddhist temple hall at Todai-ji, Japan
The Daibutsuden is a Buddhist temple hall within the Todai-ji complex in Nara that houses a large bronze statue. The construction uses massive timber columns supporting a multi-tiered roof with curved lines that extends over a rectangular footprint.
The original hall was built in the eighth century as part of an imperial project to promote Buddhism across Japan. Fire destroyed the building twice, once during a 12th-century war and again later, before the current version was completed in 1709.
The current structure no longer reaches its original eighth-century width, as timber shortage during reconstruction required adjustments. Inside, visitors can see several additional statues beside the central figure, representing different periods of Japanese Buddhism.
Access is through a front gate from which a stone path leads directly to the main entrance. The hall is open to visitors daily, with the interior offering enough space for larger groups to gather in front of the statue.
Some of the timber columns have small openings at their base that visitors can crawl through, traditionally believed to bring good fortune. The building remains the world's largest all-timber structure despite its reduced dimensions after reconstruction.
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