Emperor Shōmu

Emperor Shōmu (701 – June 4, 756) was the 45th emperor. Shōmu, a devout Buddhist, commissioned the sixteen-meter high statue of the Vairocana Buddha (the Daibutsu) in Tōdai-ji of Nara. Earlier in 741, he established the system of provincial temples, making this the closest anyone ever came to declaring Japan a Buddhist nation

During the 7^th century, Buddhism grew greatly thanks to generous court subsidies of Emperor Shōmu (701 – 756) who reigned from 724 to 749. Emperor Shōmu abdicated in favor of his daughter, who would become Empress Kōken. After abdication, Shōmu took tonsure, thus becoming the first retired emperor to become a Buddhist priest.