How many “rahotsu” are there?

The head of the Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple has many hair-like protuberances.
These are called “rahotsu,” which means “whirling hair” like a spiral shell.
It is said to be derived from the hairstyles of high-ranking people in ancient India.
The first Daibutsu (Great Buddha) built in the Nara period (710-794) had 966 rahotsu on its head, but the current Daibutsu, rebuilt in the Edo period (1603-1868), has only 483 rahotsu.
The size of one rahotsu is slightly larger than a human head!

CAT Publishing