One of the downsides of placing a black caption on a black background is that it’s hard to read.  This is an old and unused card.  We can make out “To-shodai … Temple, Nara” and that should be enough proof but if we’re wrong, please let us know.  Meanwhile, we know that (唐招提寺, Tōshōdaiji) was founded in the year 759 by Ganjin, a Chinese priest who was invited to Japan by the emperor in order to train priests and improve Japanese Buddhism. Ganjin’s influence was monumental, and his teaching at Toshodaiji (which roughly translates to “temple of the one invited from Tang China”) was important in that process.  Toshodaiji’s main hall (kondo) re-opened in late 2009 after being renovated over almost ten years, during which the building was dismantled and reconstructed. The temple’s lecture hall (kodo) was originally an administrative building located in the Nara Imperial Palace and was later moved to Toshodaiji. Today, it is the only surviving building of the former palace.  So what you see in the postcard has a slightly different view than it might look now.  Some smudging on the reverse.  Grade: 2