Tôdai-ji (“Great East Temple”), originally the most powerful temple of the old capital Nara, was built in 745 as the centre of a nationwide network of provincial temples (kokubunji). A visible sign of its rank is the Great Buddha, which is cast shortly after the foundation of Tôdai-ji. To this day, he embodies the largest bronze statue on earth. The main hall of the Tôdai-ji, where it is displayed, is also considered a superlative, the world’s largest wooden building. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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