In the temple of Todai-ji in the Nara Period, Nandai-mon Gate, Chumon Gate, Kon-do Hall (the Great Buddha Hall) and Kodo Hall were all in a line in a north to south direction, and on the north side of the Kodo Hall the priests' living quarters were layed out in a U-shape to the east, north and west; and on the left and right sides between the Nandai-mon Gate and Chumon Gate, there were two sets (east and west) of Nanajunoto (seven-story pagodas, approximately 100m tall) and corridors surrounding them.
奈良時代の東大寺の伽藍は、南大門、中門、金堂（大仏殿）、講堂が南北方向に一直線に並び、講堂の北側には東・北・西に「コ」の字形に並ぶ僧房（僧の居所）、僧房の東には食堂（じきどう）があり、南大門-中門間の左右には東西2基の七重塔（高さ約100メートルと推定される）が回廊に囲まれて建っていた。