Worship of Benzaiten had already begun by the Nara period, and the eight armed standing statue (modeled statue) housed in the Hokke-do hall (Sangatsu-do Hall) of Todai-ji Temple is highly valuable as Japan's oldest such work despite extensive damage.
日本での弁才天信仰はすでに奈良時代に始まっており、東大寺法華堂（三月堂）安置の8臂の立像（塑像）は、破損甚大ながら、日本最古の作例として貴重である。