Among Japanese temples rarely find one that would never in its long history, has not suffered from the fire. One of the few temples is Tōshōdai-ji, a Buddhist temple of the Shingon-Riesz in Nara. On the roof of its main hall - a condo in ancient times it was established Sibi - decorative figures in the form of fish tails. Perhaps the architects and builders and placed on the roof of the symbols of water, in order to protect the temple from fires.

Founder Tōshōdai-ji, a Chinese monk Ganjin, in its quest to establish the temple had a fair persistence. He stepped on the ground in Japan only the sixth attempt, and the previous five ended in failure because of the storm, a shipwreck and Japanese officials, who were not allowed into the country monk. Monk Ganjin blind, but still in the year 759 built a temple, which was buried after his death. The church kept its two wooden statues, one of which is stored in the hall Miey show visitors all three days of the year - June 5-7. Name Tōshōdai-ji translates as "visiting Chinese Temple." The main hall of the temple - Condo - was built after the death of the founder.

Tōshōdai-ji Temple, among other temples of Nara is known for having preserved its territory most of the buildings of the time, when in place of the modern city was the capital of Heijō-kyō.

To the construction of the VIII century are the main hall - the condo and a hall for sermons - Kodo. Regarding Kodo there is a version that it was one of the buildings of the palace quarter, which was transferred to the territory of the already built the temple. Both buildings - condominiums and Kodo - have a simple shape and looks very succinctly.

In the church are kept two statues of Buddha and the statue of the goddess of mercy Kannon Thousand. The temple is listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Tōshōdai-ji is located in the western part of Nara.