Saidai-ji

Saidai-ji (西大寺) or the "Great Western Temple" is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples in the city of Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple was first established in AD 765 as a counterpart to Tōdai-ji and it is the main temple of the Shingon Risshu (真言律宗) sect of Buddhism after the sect's founder, Eison (叡尊), took over administration in 1238. It has undergone several reconstruction efforts since then during the succeeding centuries.

One building, the Aizen-dō, houses a statue of Aizen Myō-ō, while the main image is of Shakyamuni Buddha, erected by Eison in 1249.

Building list

 * Main Hall (Hondō – 本堂) – Important Cultural Property. It was rebuilt in 1808.
 * Shiō-dō (四王堂) – It was rebuilt in 1674.
 * Aizen-dō (愛染堂) – It was reconstructed in 1762.