Nara

1. "Our capital of Nara is prosperous as now blooming flowers are fragrant" so praised Anthology of Manyo poems, Nara was transferred from the capital of Fujiwara in 710 by Empress Genme and remained as a capital of Japan during 7 generations, about 75 years, until its transfer to the new capital of Nagaoka in 784. NB: Aoniyoshi was a kind of paint made in Nara region and is served here as a stylized epithet (makurakotoba in Japanese) to introduce the term "Nara".
2. Todai-ji Temple had been the headquarter of all the official Buddhist temples constructed by Emperor Shomu in each province of Japan. It has been suffered several times from war casualties so it has lost the initial dimension. Nevertheless the actual hall of Daibutsu, where the great Buddha has been installed, has a frontage of 57m with 47.5m of height and is the world biggest wooden building.
3. Being a huge foundry statue with 15m high, the official name of the great Buddha of Todaiji Temple is Rushanabutsu (national treasure). It was built by Kuninaka no Kimimaro and others as a national enterprise and its opening ceremony took place in the 4th year of Tenpyo-shoho era (752).
4. It suffered several times accidents and fires after the completion, so during Kamakura period it was repaired mainly by Chogen. Moreover, in 1692 a great restoration took place too.