The Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji Coloring Pages

The hall where the Great Buddha of Nara lives

Todai-ji is a temple in Nara City, Nara Prefecture. Its most famous building is The Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji, which houses the Great Buddha.
It is huge! It is 57 meters wide across the front, 50.5 meters deep, and 46.8 meters tall. That is as high as a 15-story building! It is one of the largest old wooden buildings in the world.

It used to be even bigger

Surprisingly, today's The Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji is smaller than it used to be.
When it was first built, it is said to have been about 1.5 times wider than it is now. In terms of spaces between the pillars, there used to be 11, but now there are 7. It burned down in fires many times, and it got smaller each time it was rebuilt. Even so, it is still this big, so you can imagine how huge the first The Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji was!

The Two Horns on the Roof

Take a look at both ends of the top of the roof. There are two golden decorations that stick up like horns, aren't there? This decoration is called a shibi.
It is based on the shape of a fish tail, and it is placed there as a magic charm to protect the building from fires. It has the same job as a shachihoko, but its shape is very different!

The Round Window in the Front

In the middle of the front of the building, there is a roof that curves and sticks out. The big window below it is called the Kanso Window.
When it opens, you can see the Great Buddha's face from the outside! It is only opened twice a year, at New Year's and during the Obon festival. It is a special feature made so that people can pray from outside.

Emperor Shomu's Wish

It was Emperor Shomu who decided to build the Great Buddha. That was in 743. Back then, sickness spread, earthquakes happened, and people had a hard life. The Great Buddha was built with the wish to save that world.
The ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Great Buddha was held in 752. The Great Buddha is about 14.7 meters tall, and it has been sitting right here for over 1,200 years.

The Current Building Is from the Edo Period

The Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji standing today was rebuilt in 1709. That was during the Edo period. Still, it means the building is over 300 years old!
The Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji is a National Treasure, and it was also registered as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1998.

Separate the Colors for the Roof and Pillars

The Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji will look super cool if you clearly separate the colors for the roof and pillars.
The roof is made of tiles, so use a bluish gray. The wooden pillars and walls look best in a reddish brown. The contrast between these two colors is the best part of this building! If you color the roof brown, everything will blend together too much.

Change the Shade for Each Layer of Interlocking Wood

Can you see the many layers of square wood stacked under the roof? These are called interlocking wood blocks, and they hold up the heavy roof.
Since the same shape repeats here, coloring them all the same way will make it look flat. If you make the top layer light and the bottom layer dark, it will look deep and real! Coloring the small gaps in dark brown works great, too.

Make the Shibi Gold

The horn-like ornaments on both ends of the roof are gold! Color them yellow-ocher first, then add a layer of brown on just one side.
This is the highest spot in the picture, so making it gold draws everyone's eyes right to the top! Make sure it stands out clearly from the gray roof.

Color Along the Curve of the Roof

The roof of The Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji has a big, gentle curve. When you color it, move your colored pencil along that curve!
If you move your pencil straight sideways, the roof will look flat. If you make the upper part of the roof lighter and the parts near the edge darker, the beautiful curved shape will really show!

The Path and Lanterns

Pictures with backgrounds show a straight path and lanterns. If you change the color slightly for each stone on the path, it will not look flat and plain.
The lanterns are made of bronze, so coloring them a greenish gray makes them look like the real thing! Try making the green a little stronger instead of using the exact same color as the roof.

A Window that Opens Only Twice a Year

The big window in the middle of the front of The Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji is called the Kanso-mado. It is usually closed, but it opens only twice a year, at New Year's and during the Obon festival.
When the window opens, you can look up at the Great Buddha's face while standing outside. It was designed so people can pray without even going inside. At night, lights are lit inside the hall, and his face shines softly in the dark.

Squeezing Through the Hole in the Pillar

When you go inside The Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji, you can find a square hole in one of the thick pillars. People say it is the same size as the Great Buddha's nostril!
It is a popular spot because people believe that if you crawl through this hole, your wish will come true. Many children try it on school trips. The hole is a little too tight for adults!

It Got Smaller Every Time It Was Rebuilt

The Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji has burned down two times in the past. Both times were during wars, in 1180 and 1567.
People worked together to rebuild it each time. But it was very hard to collect enough wood and money, so it became narrower every time. The current Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji is the third one, and it is about two-thirds the width of the very first one.

The Nio Statues at Nandaimon Gate

On your way to The Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji, you will see a big gate. It is a National Treasure called the Nandaimon Gate. On both sides of the gate stand Kongo Rikishi statues that are over 8 meters tall.
Great sculptors like Unkei and Kaikei worked together to make these statues in 1203. Records show that they finished them in just 69 days!