While returing from a visit about two hours north west of Tokyo there appeared on the horizon a large statue. As we got closer and the full size of the statue became apparent one of my Japanese colleagues asked where Godzilla was to fight this trespasser.
9:15 AM |
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Out and about
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Who is he? Did you find out?
Funny you should ask - a quick google reveals all - Ushiku Daibutsu aka Hōzō Bosatsu / Amida Nyorai 100 meters in height Ibaraki Prefecture, 50 km northeast of Tokyo. Originally known as Jodo Teien, this garden park is now referred to as Ushiku Arcadia, a place to retrace the journey of Hōzō Bosatsu (法蔵菩薩, also spelled Houzou or Hozo). Hōzō (Skt. = Dharmakāra) appears in the Sutra of Infinite Life (Muryōjukyō 無量壽經; Skt. Sukhavatiyuha Sutra). As a human, Hōzō was a king who gave up his throne after hearing the teachings of Lokesvararaja Buddha (Sejizaiō Butsu 自在王佛). He became a monk, and after eons of practice, he became Dharmakāra Bodhisattva (Hōzō Bosatsu 法藏菩薩), who then made 48 vows, fulfilled them, and became Amida Nyorai. The Ushiku Daibutsu (not sure of exact construction date; perhaps 1995 AD) is reportedly the tallest Buddhist statue in the world. One hundred meters in height, it is covered with 6-mm-thick bronze plates, and stands on a platform 20 meters high. The statue is more than double the height of the Statue of Liberty.
Very interesting story and info. Thanks for looking into it!