Beside the Great Buddha

Inside Tōdai-ji’s Great Buddha Hall, a gilded figure draws the eye toward the structure above. Timber, sculpture and the height of the interior share the frame.

The hall has been rebuilt after two devastating fires. Its present form therefore carries a history of repair as well as devotion. This photograph stays close to one part of the interior; the figure in the foreground is distinct from the Great Buddha for which the hall is named.

I wanted the image to keep both scales in view. The sculpture offers a point of attention, then the lines of the building pull the gaze upwards. A visit to a place this large can begin with a single detail.