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Nara Period

The Great Buddha (Daibutsu), 17th century replacement of an 8th century sculpture, Tōdai-ji, Nara, Japan (photo: throgers, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) — In Japan, the lavish Tang style was intertwined with Buddhist devotional art during the Nara period.

Nara period, an introduction

by Dr. Sonia Coman

Shōsōin Repository (photo: Roman SUZUKI, CC BY 3.0) — Shōsōin repository held nine thousand artifacts from China, Southeast Asia, Iran, and the Middle East—connecting ancient Japan to the cultural trade of the Eurasian continent.

The Shōsōin Repository and its treasure

by Dr. Mariachiara Gasparini

Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), Todai-ji, Nara, Japan, 743, rebuilt. c. 1700 (photo: author, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) — This massive temple was built to impress—twice. Its monumental timber frame required a veritable cypress forest.

Tōdai-ji

by Dr. Deanna MacDonald

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