Kimimaro Kuninaka-no-Muraji

Japan

Kuninaka-no-Muraji Kimimaro worked in the Buddhist tradition of the Nara period (AD 710–794). He was commissioned by Emperor Shomu to build the Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at the Todaiji Temple at Nara. This noteworthy work was completed in 749 and the Kaigen ceremony (the rite of adding eyes to the image with which the spirit of Buddha was invited to reside in the image) was held three years later in 752. As reward for this task, he was later appointed chief con¬structor of the temple. The Daibutsu which is approximately 16 meters in height is the biggest statue of Buddha to have ever been cast. It suffered great damage by fire on two occasions, once in 1180 and again in 1567. As a result of this only the knees and the lotus petals of the statue remain as original works of Kimimaro Kuninaka-no-Muraji.