The Todaiji temple construction started in 745 under the Emperor Shomu, an ardent supporter of Buddhism. It was completed in 752, celebrated with the most splendid ceremony of the century, attended by Shomu and his family, the entire Court and about 10000 priests and worshippers.
At that time, it was the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples of Japan and grew so powerful that the capital was moved from Nara to Nagaoka in 784 in order to lower its influence on government affairs.
The main hall hosts the Daibutsu (from which the hall's name) which is known as "The great Buddha of Nara", a large bronze sculpture of the Vairocana Buddha. At 15m in height, it was erected during the reign of the founder, the Emperor Shomu who was promoting the then new religion of Buddhism in order to secure peace and prosperity for his nation. The construction of this Buddha started in year 747 and was completed in 752.
In 1180,Todaiji Temple was essentially destroyed by Tairano Shigehira and his rampaging hordes and was devastated again during the war of 1567, a time of great civil strife in Japan. The current Buddha housed in the Daibutsuden is a 1691 reconstruction.
