A temple established by Emperor Shōmu with a history that can be traced back to 728. Later, it became the head temple of a national temple system, kokubunji, and as the “Great Eastern Temple” guarding the city of Heijōkyō capital, Tōdaiji was also a temple of the Six Sects of Nara Buddhism. Today, it is the head temple of the Kegon sect. It houses the Great Buddha in its Daibutsuden. The Shōsō-in was originally its repository. See also Daibutsuden.