The hands of the Daibutsu (great Buddha) in Kamakura, Japan Blog: neuigkeiten aus japan

The daibutsu from another angle and another light. The Daibutsu, Kotokuin Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan

Detail of the Great Budda in Kamakura, Japan. A bit of a switch from my normal wildlife and landscape photos - but I also enjoy the amazing cultures I experience as I travel for research activities. There is something unique about visiting or participating in something that has gone on for years, centuries....I've had a number of those experiences and they always make me aware of my tie to human past and future - just think this statue has stood in this spot since 1252.....almost 760 years! Imagine all the folks that have stood in front of him and wished/prayed for health, wealth, safety, love or just peace and calm to live their lives. The Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kamakura Daibutsu) is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha, which stands on the grounds of Kotokuin Temple. With a height of 13.35 meters, it is the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan, surpassed only by the statue in Nara's Todaiji Temple. The statue was cast in 1252 and originally was located inside a large temple hall. However, the temple buildings were destroyed multiple times by typhoons and a tidal wave in the 14th and 15th centuries. So, since 1495, the Buddha has been standing in the open air.

Kamakura Buddha by LIU HAN-LIN

Buddha in Kamakura, Japan

Buddha in Kamakura, Japan