QR Translator

Toshodaiji Temple - Kondō (Golden Hall or main hall)
Category: Temple

The Kondō (Golden Hall or main hall) is a classic building whose appearance has remained the same since the second half of the 8th century, when Toshodaiji Temple was established. The façade is seven ken* (approximately 4.7 meters in the center, narrowing to 3.3 meters at each end), the hipped roof is 4 ken from front to back with 1 ken of open-air space in the front, and three-step bracket complexes called mitesaki, support the eaves, all of which reveals the era in which it was constructed. Inside the hall is the principle object of worship, the seated statue of the buddha Birushana (Vairocana) in the middle. A standing statue of Yakushi Nyorai (Bhaisajyaguru) is on its right and a standing statue of the Thousand-armed Kannon (Avalokitesvara bodhisattva) is on its left. (All are National Treasures.) *ken: Japanese measurement of 1 ken = approximately 1.82 meters or 6.58 feet.

Address:

13-46 Gojocho, Nara

Access:

700m from Kintetsu Nishinokyo Station
18 minutes by bus from JR Nara Station
22 minutes by bus from Kintestu Nara Station
Near the Toshodai-ji bus stop