Eye-Opening Ceremony of the Great Buddha of Todaiji

Timeline

1. 743–752Todaiji · JapanEmperor Shomu decreed the building of great temples in each province and the casting of a Vairocana Buddha to protect the state; the Great Buddha Hall at Todaiji took years to complete, mobilizing nationwide labor and resources, reflecting the policy of nationalizing Buddhism.
2. 752Todaiji Great Buddha Hall · JapanTodaiji held the eye-opening ceremony for the Vairocana Buddha, attended by retired Emperor Shomu, the monk Bodhisena (the eye-opening master), and envoys from many provinces, marking the climax of the Nara-period movement to use Buddhism to protect the state; the Great Buddha became a symbol of the ritsuryo state's authority.