The great statue of Roshana (Dainichi) at Tōdaiji temple in Nara is among the largest Buddhist sculptures in the world. The statue was commisioned by emperor Shōmu in 743 to calm domestic unreast, avert natural diasters and promote world peace. It was part of Shōmu's plan to build a temple and monastery (kokubunji) in each province. Work was begun in 747, but it took three year and eight attempts to cast the statue. It is over 50 feet tall and weighs over 250 tons.
The original exterior structure was destroyed in 1180 and the current hall dates only from the 1700s. It is only two-thirds the size of the original hall, but it is nonetheless the largest wooden structure in the world.
