The “Great Buddha Hall” of Todaiji Temple, officially called “Kondo,” is one of the largest wooden structures in the world. This magnificent building was erected during the Nara period and is known as one of Japan's representative Buddhist structures. The Daibutsuden was built to enshrine the Great Buddha of Nara, and as the centerpiece of Todaiji Temple, it has played a symbolic role in the temple's history and culture. The origin of Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall dates back to 743, when Emperor Shomu ordered the casting of the Great Buddha in order to promote national peace and the prosperity of Buddhism. Upon the completion of the Great Buddha, the Daibutsuden was built to house the giant statue. The original Daibutsuden took about 20 years to complete, but it was repeatedly destroyed by fire and rebuilt due to wars and natural disasters in the course of Japanese history. The current Daibutsuden was rebuilt in 1709, and was constructed using Edo period technology. Although smaller in scale than the original Great Buddha Hall of the Nara period, it still boasts an overwhelming presence. The entire hall is approximately 50 meters high and 57 meters wide, and a 15 meter high Great Buddha is enshrined within the hall. This Giant Buddha is called “Rushanabutsu” and represents the symbol of the universe in Buddhism.