Todaiji Temple, Japan.

2 pieces

Todaiji is a timber hall in Nara large enough to have held the record for centuries, built to house a bronze buddha several storeys tall. The columns are whole trees, the roof sweeps out in two great tiers, and deer wander the approach as if they own it, which in practice they do. A pillar inside has a hole cut through the base at the size of the buddha's nostril and children climb through it for luck. The colour is weathered timber, bronze and deep green. The pieces here come as prints, ornaments and more.