Toshodai-ji temple

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	Brief Explanation
	History
	Ganjin

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Brief Explanation

This temple was built by Priest Ganjin in 759, who came to Japan from China, invited by the Emperor. Ganji arrived in Japan in 754, on his sixth trial.

The Kon-do, which has pillars of beautiful entasis, is the representative architecture of the Tenpyo era. If you step in the silent precinct, you will feel as though the time has stopped. The buildings such as the Kon-do, Kodo, treasure house, and scripture house standing in line, gives people some ideas of its former splendor. The precincts still remains most of its appearance, and the arrangement of the buildings tells the magnanimous Tenpyo era's culture. After the capital transferring to Heian-kyo, the temple once lost its power, but in the Kamakura era, Kakusei Shonin revived the temple. In the Edo era, the temple was repaired again. The temple's name comes from Ganjin from the country Toh (China).

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History

Heijo-kyo in this time, was more international than Japan was before the war. Probably, through the Silk Road, nomads such as the Turks, and Persians had come to Japan. Japan did not develop its own culture from ancient times, nor was influenced only by the Chinese or Korean culture. Japan was always connected with the continent by the people's interchange.

This temple transmits the feeling of ancient times, and is surrounded by a strange atmosphere as if we are in rapport with the ancient people. There still remains the vestige of the unique Tenpyo culture's powerful and free culture.

Ganjin arrived to Japan, experiencing many shipwrecks and sufferings. He even lost his eyesight in the end. He provided the first Saidan-in in Todai-ji temple.

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Ganjin

Please look at the "A HISTRICAL FIGURE" for information about Ganjin.

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