116. Great South Gate (Nan-daimon)
of Todai-ji, Nara, 1199 (Japan)

This huge wooden gateway serves as the entrance to the monastic complex of Todai-ji, or the Eastern Great Temple. One of the most important religious foundations in the old capital city of Nara, Todai-ji was established by the Emperor Shomu in the 8th century as part of his efforts to involve the Japanese people more directly in Buddhist ritual; this was undertaken in the hope that the resultant display of piety would protect the nation from further disaster. The dominant architectural presence at Todai-ji is the Great Buddha Hall, or Daibutsuden, reputedly the largest wooden building in the world; it houses a colossal bronze image of the Buddha that is 16 metres tall. The roof structure of the Great South Gate, exemplary of the ‘Great Buddha style,’ reflects an evident knowledge of contemporary building practises in Song-dynasty China. Its lower roof is supported by eight tiers of cantilevered brackets, and its upper roof by seven. These brackets are inserted directly into the supporting columns, which are linked by tie-beams. Since the gateway has no ceilings, the complexity of the entire roof structure is visible from inside. Like the other remarkable buildings at Todai-ji, the Nan-daimon has been designated a National Treasure of Japan.