Todaiji

Title

Todaiji

Publisher

Lawrence Technological University

Date Created

August 7, 2015

Creator2

O’Connor, Thomas (photograph)

Work Type

Single Built Works

Date

April, 1972

Work Location

Japan (nation)
Nara (inhabited place)

Style/Period

Japanese architecture styles

Subject

temples (buildings)
brackets (structural elements)
interior views
Japanese Buddhism

Description

Detail view of brackets extending from columns near the roof at the Todaiji Temple precinct in Nara, Japan, still the world's largest wooden building. "Upon reaching the temple worship hall, they are within the physical presence of Buddha and thus focused their prayers towards the religious icon. In order to project a grandiose, yet harmonious atmosphere within the worship hall, a special architectural style divided the temple into four interdependent areas: 1) Base columns, 2) Sloping roof, 3) Interlaced brackets, 4) Roof decorations. All four areas were mathematically dependent upon each other. Therefore, structural integrity changes in one area required the recalculation of the other three areas. Since temple-building was both a ritualistic and architectural endeavor, the entire project followed a predefined modular process, for no parts were prefabricated ahead of time,"--Japanese architecture & temple structure, Leon Z. Lee, 8/13/2003 from the Association for Asian Research website.

Material/Medium

wood (plant material)

Reproduction Type

jpeg

ID Number

LTU-TOJ-137

Files

LTU-TOJ-137.jpg
Date Added
August 7, 2015
Collection
LTU Digital Images
Item Type
VRA Core
Tags
, , ,
Citation
“Todaiji,” LTU Digital Images, accessed March 28, 2024, https://ltuimagecollection.omeka.net/items/show/14912.