The Great Southern Gate is the oldest structure in the Todai-ji Temple. It was constructed over 800 years ago during the Kamakura 鎌倉 period in the Chinese style of Southern Song 南宋 to replace the original one destroyed by typhoon in 962. In the dark niches franking the gate stood two 8.4m tall wood Nio 金剛力士 guardians. All of these are considered by the Japanese as national treasures.