The Siege of Nara (南都焼討, Nantō Yakiuchi) alternatively known as the Nanto Arson Campaign in Japan is an event which took place on January 15th 1181 (December 28th 1180 in the Jishō calendar), following Prince Mochihito and Minamoto no Yorimasa defeat and subsequent death to the Taira clan, after which the Taira forces burnt down the Miidera temple (which had sheltered the anti-Taira forces), before moving on to Nara, where they "set fire to the monastic complexes of Kōfuku-ji and Tōdai-ji.

However, the monks of Nara captured and beheaded over 60 of Kaneyasu's men and lined them up at the edge of Sarusawa Pond, causing Kanayasu to return to Kiyomori.

Soon the elderly and young (numbering roughly 1,000) began to flee into the Great Buddha Hall of the Tōdai-ji [ja], but soon it was destroyed by fire too, with the Kofuku-ji falling aswell.

[5][1] The Heike Monogatari laments the destruction of the Tōdai-ji's Daibutsu (Great Buddha statue) and Nara:[5][1] The colossal statue of Vairocana Buddha of copper and gold, whose domed head towered up into the clouds, from which gleamed the sacred jewel of his lofty forehead, fused with the heat, so that its fullmoon features fell to the pavement below, while its body melted into a shapeless mass.

[5] Kiyomori alone was greatly rejoiced at the news, while the Empress, and the Retired Emperor all sorrowed at the destruction of so many temples, though somewhat pleased that the rebellious monks of Nara were exterminated.