Final answer:
The Great Buddha statue at Todai-ji in Nara, Japan, is a fifteen meters high sculpture made of bronze, subsequently gilded in gold. It represents an enormous seated Buddha and is housed in the Great Buddha Temple, established in 728 CE to showcase the wealth and power of the emperor.
The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The form of the Great Buddha statue at Todai-ji in Nara, Japan, is made of bronze. This exceptional sculpture, also known as Daibutsu, is housed within the Great Buddha Temple, which was constructed in 728 CE.
The statue itself is an enormous representation of the sitting Buddha, reaching a height of fifteen meters even in a seated position. Not only is the sculpture made of bronze, but it also underwent an arduous and medically dangerous gilding process with gold to enhance its splendor, reinforcing the impression of wealth and power of the ruling class that commissioned it.
The remarkable size of the Great Buddha can be further appreciated through its dimensions; the statue's face spans five meters in width and its shoulders extend twenty-eight meters across. Its head features nine hundred and sixty meticulously arranged curls, demonstrating the remarkable craftsmanship of the period.
Empress Shōmu, who constructed the Todai-ji, used the statue to convey political messages of power and influence, evident in the presence of smaller figures as well as a small shrine to a Shinto deity, representing the incorporation of submitted rival factions.
The correct option is A.