Located at Koutoku-in Temple in Kamakura, Japan, the Kamakura Daibutsu (literally, BIG Buddha) is a giant bronze statue of Amida Nyorai.

Constructed in 1252 A.D., the Kamakura Daibutsu stands 13.35 meters in height (the face itself nearly 2.5 meters long), and weighs approximately 93 tons. Upon the head are 656 hair curls, a traditional characteristic of the Amida Buddha. The silver boss on the forehead, from which emanates the light that illuminates the universe, weighs 30 pounds.

Amida, which means “Infinite light and life,” is one of the loftiest savior figures in Japanese Buddhism, and Amida faith is concerned primarily with the life to come (paradise).

©The Palladian Traveller

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©Tom Palladio Images

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Written by The Palladian Traveler

Tom traded his hometown St. Louis Cardinals' baseball cap in the United States for a Borsalino and he now hangs his "capello" in the Puglia region of southeastern Italy. A veteran print and broadcast journalist, with well-worn passports that have got him into and out of 50 countries and counting, Tom fell in love with the "Bel Paese" years ago. As he notes, "I'm inspired by the beauty I find in all things that are very, very old, and reliving history, or at least meandering along cobblestone streets that were laid down over a thousand years ago and just looking up and marveling at what occupies the space still today, really gets my 'Vespa' running." Tom has a good eye behind the lens and is a graphic storyteller, but he'll let you decide as he keeps his camera batteries fully charged and the posts flowing from his creative hideaway in the hills overlooking Ostuni. You can also follow his dispatches along the cobblestone via TravelingBoy.com.

13 comments

  6. There is actually a similar one in Hongkong that we also visited – within Ngong Ping 360. It would take you 200 steps to reach the top of the temple to see the Buddha up close, but well worth the travel. Great photos here. 🙂

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    1. Myra – I’ve been to Lantau Island and visited the Po Lin monastery where the Tian Tan Buddha is. Now that is incredibly BIG as you can spot it from faraway as you drive the winding road down below approaching the hilly climb up to the monastery. Thanks again for stopping by. Glad you liked the post.

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  9. Awesome, awesome find. How I wish to see myself. I’m glad you put people there to see how really big it is. Can you imagine the progress and hard work to construct it? Immensely fascinating!

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