One of many ancient and beautiful Buddhist temples in Nara.
Nara was the capital of Japan, the seat of the Emperor, from 714 to 794, which is known as the Nara period. Subsequently the capital was moved to nearby Heian, which later became known as Kyoto. Today Nara is a medium-sized provincial city of 367,000 people.
Buddhism had arrived in Japan a couple of centuries earlier, and Nara became a major center of Buddhist worship; it still has many Buddhist temples and shrines. According to legend, Takemikazuchi – the god of thunder and swords – arrived in Nara riding on a white deer to take the city under his protection, and since then the deer have been regarded as sacred protectors of the city. They roam freely about the city, getting in the way of people and cars and soliciting food from passers-by, to whom vendors sell snacks for that very purpose. I didn’t feed them myself, but I enjoyed having them around.
A Street in Nara
Nara, once the capital of Japan, is now a quiet provincial town overshadowed by nearby Kyoto and Osaka.
Deer Jaywalking
The deer in Nara are sacred and running them over with your car is frowned upon.
Sacred deer in Nara Park
These are native Japanese sika deer, but they look like any old white-tailed deer to me.
Deer grazing on cherry blossoms
Deer grazing on fallen cherry blossoms in Nara Park. I didn't know that deer ate cherry blossoms, but why not? There are plenty of them around in the spring.
Nara-19960415-0072
I'm not sure what kind of establishment this is - most likely a Buddhist temple, of which there are many in Nara.
Peaceful byway
This quiet and peaceful lane, presided over by a cherry tree in bloom, leads to another Buddhist temple in Nara.
Secluded Buddhist temple
One of many ancient and beautiful Buddhist temples in Nara, located at the end of the quiet lane seen in the previous photo.
Buddhist temple
Another pretty Buddhist temple in Nara.
I visited several Buddhist temples, of which the most prominent was Todai-ji, founded in 738. It contains the world’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha, known as Daibutsu in Japan.
Pedestrian walk to Todai-ji
Pedestrian walk leading to Todai-ji Nandaimon, the Great South Gate at Todai-ji Temple, completed in 1203.
The Great South Gate
Sacred deer lurk by Todai-ji Nandaimon and demand to be fed by passers-by, threatening to eat them if not fed.
Feeding the sacred deer
The gentleman with the pony tail generously donated his lunch to the deer, or maybe he just didn't want to be eaten by them.
Agyo
Agyo, one of two great gate guardians within Nandaimon, the Great South Gate of Todaiji.
Great Buddha Hall
The Great Buddha Hall, Todai-ji Temple. Originally built in the 8th century, twice rebuilt after fires, most recently in 1709. Until 1998 it was the world's largest wooden building.
Todaiji Temple Interior
The dark and cavernous interior of the Todaiji Temple.
Todaiji Dabutsu in Nara
Todaiji Dabutsu in Nara. Completed in 752 CE, it is 50 feet tall and weighs 500 tons.
Good Karma Column
A supporting post in the Daibutsuden has a hole said to be the same size as one of the Daibutsu's nostrils. Legend has it that those who pass through it will be blessed with enlightenment in their next life.
Komokuten
Komokuten, one of a pair of guardians in the Daibutsuden (main hall) of Todai-ji Temple
Belfry
The belfry at Todai-ji
The Great Bell at Todai-ji
The bell in the belfry at Todai-ji Temple.
Next to Todai-ji is the Isui-en Garden, which is noted for its use of “borrowed scenery”, meaning that the architects incorporated external elements, specifically the Nandaimon or South Gate of Todai-ji Temple as well as some of the mountains around Nara, when framing the landscape of the garden. It is a vast garden, occupying 13,500 square meters or 145,000 square feet, and is actually a combination of two separate gardens, the smaller dating from the 17th century and the other from 1899. Both were created by wealthy merchants and were bought and combined by a third businessman in 1939. The garden contains large ponds, fed by a nearby river, and a couple of pleasant tea-houses. I found this garden – among many others in Japan – immensely pleasing and soothing. I never cease to be amazed by the Japanese sense of esthetics, and nowhere is it expressed more eloquently than in their gardens.
Another great temple of Nara is Kofuku-ji, located not far from Todai-ji and Isuien Garden. I should emphasize that there are many more wonderful temples and shrines in Nara than these, and I regret that I didn’t have time to explore them all.
Nanen-do, Kofukuji Temple
Worship hall & pilgrimage site first built in 813, housing an ornate, 8-handed deity sculpture.
Gojuno-to - Kofukuji Temple
Gojuno-to - Five-story pagoda at Kofukuji Temple, built around 730 AD. Note the TV broadcasting antenna on top. Even in the 8th century, Japan was a technologically advanced civilization.
Sorin Finial
8th-century TV broadcasting antenna removed from the top of a pagoda and stuck in the ground. (The Japanese call it a Sorin finial.)
