Speaking of Tōdai-ji, it’s the temple in Nara Prefecture famous for the enormous Great Buddha known as the Nara Daibutsu.
I’m sure many of you learned a lot about Tōdai-ji, one of Nara Prefecture’s signature sightseeing spots, in your school history classes.
In this article, in addition to the knowledge you might have learned at school, we’ll introduce trivia about Tōdai-ji and the Great Buddha in a quiz format—facts that many people may not know.
If you’re planning to visit Tōdai-ji or you’re from Nara Prefecture, knowing these tidbits might give you something to brag about to others.
Enjoy as you absorb some new knowledge!
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Trivia quiz about Tōdai-ji. Questions related to the Great Buddha of Nara too! (1–10)
How much would the cost of constructing Tōdai-ji be in today’s monetary value?
- approximately 12.39 billion yen
- Approximately 465.7 billion yen
- Approximately 852.1 billion yen
See the answer
Approximately 465.7 billion yen
A huge amount of money was spent on the construction of Todai-ji. According to research by Kansai University, it is estimated to be about 465.7 billion yen when converted to today’s monetary value. As a result, it is said to have put a strain on the national finances at the time and made ordinary people’s lives difficult.
What is the official name of Tōdai-ji?
- Temple for National Protection of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Golden Light
- Great Bodhi Institute, Tōdai-ji (Todaiji)
- Great Buddha of Rushana Temple
See the answer
Temple for National Protection of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Golden Light
The official name of Tōdai-ji is “The Temple for the Protection of the Nation by the Four Heavenly Kings of the Golden Light Sutra.” This name strongly reflects its original mission at the time of its founding: to pray for the protection of Heijō-kyō and for the blessings of Buddhism.
The hole in the pillar of the Great Buddha Hall is the same size as which part of the Great Buddha?
- nostril
- ear hole
- finger hole
See the answer
nostril
In the Great Buddha Hall of Tōdai-ji, there is a hole in one of the pillars that is the same size as the Great Buddha’s nostril. The hole is a rectangular opening about 30 cm by 40 cm, and it’s said that passing through it brings various blessings, such as good health and protection from misfortune.
Which monk became an important figure in the construction of Tōdai-ji?
- Saichō
- Kūkai
- Gyōki
See the answer
Gyōki
Gyōki was a famous monk of the Nara period who engaged in missionary work and relief for the poor while staying close to common people, and in his later years he was also involved in the construction of Tōdai-ji. Today, a statue of Gyōki stands in front of Kintetsu Nara Station.
How many times has Tōdai-ji been affected by fires so far?
- one time
- twice
- three times
See the answer
twice
Tōdai-ji has suffered two major fires in the past. The first occurred during the Heiji Disturbance in 1180, and the second was caused by warfare in 1567. In particular, the Great Buddha Hall was completely destroyed in the 1180 fire, and the Great Buddha was also damaged, but both were later rebuilt and have survived to the present day.
What is the official name of the Great Buddha of Todai-ji?
- Seated Statue of Vairocana (Buddha)
- Great Shakyamuni Buddha Statue
- Seated Statue of Amitabha Buddha
See the answer
Seated Statue of Vairocana (Buddha)
The Great Buddha of Tōdai-ji is formally called the Seated Statue of Vairocana. This Great Buddha was created in the Nara period at the behest of Emperor Shōmu and is a world-famous Buddhist statue. The Great Statue of Shakyamuni is located at Shōhō-ji in Gifu Prefecture and is known as one of Japan’s Three Great Buddhas, while the seated statue of Amitābha is the famous Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in in Kamakura.
About how many tens of thousands of people were involved in the construction of Tōdai-ji?
- 800,000 people
- 1.7 million people
- 2.6 million people
See the answer
2.6 million people
It is said that roughly 2.6 million people worked on the construction of Tōdai-ji. Since the population during the Nara period is estimated to have been around six million, we can see that building Tōdai-ji was a nationwide undertaking.