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Toshodai-ji

By the first half of the 8th century, the priesthood in Japan had become complacent and beset by ill-discipline and shoddy teaching methodologies. A period of reform, re-organisation and modernisation within the church was long considered overdue. In 733, Emperor Shomu dispatched a commission to China to find a renowned religious leader to kick-start the religious system back home. Ganjin, a specialist practitioner of the orthodox doctrines attached to the Ritsu Sect of Buddhism, was the only one to accept this daunting challenge.

Upon his arrival in Nara in 754, Ganjin took up his commission at Tozen-in, a sub-temple of Todai-ji – the mighty national religious behemoth. Here, a new breed of monks would enter a rigorous training programme, leading to their eventual ordination. With him, Ganjin had brought a collection of the ancient Indian sutras. These were keenly studied, copied and widely distributed by members of his clergy, as word of his achievements spread throughout the land. In return for his loyal endeavours, Ganjin was granted land by the now retired Emperor Shomu – a place in which headquarters for his sect of Buddhism could be established. It was on this modest plot of ground that the foundations for the temple of Toshodai-ji were laid. The name of the temple means the “T’ang Buddhist Monastery”. Building began in 759 with the erection of the most important element of the entire complex – the main hall (Kondo) – the centre of worship for the temple. Unfortunately, Ganjin did not live long enough to see the fulfilment of his dream, for he died four years later at the age of 75 before the completion of the temple.

Date of Construction: Main temple buildings constructed from 759 onwards

Highlights: Main Hall (“Kondo”) inspired by T’ang dynasty architecture; 1,000-armed statue of Kannon; T’ang dynasty statuary in the Lecture Hall (“Kodo”); Ordination platform (“Kaidan”); Ganjin’s grave