Kamakura Daibutsu 高徳院の大仏

The mysterious history of Daibutsu

Much has been said and written about Kamakura Daibutsu, but historical data remains scarce and sometimes contradictory. It is not known who sponsored it although legend says that it was to grant the wish of the founder of the city, the shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo, who died fifty years earlier, that the Buddhist monk Joko collected donations to have a large Buddha erected, in the same image of the one in Nara, Todaiji temple, as Yoritomo would have liked.

First built in wood around the 1240s, it was swept away by a storm five years later and rebuilt in a bronze statue, as the statue has survived the centuries, almost intact. Who was the sculptor? When was its construction completed and where were the 121 tons of bronze used, came from? All remains a mystery...

• To read also: The giant Buddha of Todai-ji

What is certain is that the statue and its building had to deal with several large typhoons and even a tsunami early in its existence. This was followed by more devastations and nature: typhoons, sea winds, bird droppings and finally the great Tokyo earthquake in 1923 where the giant moved 50 cm but held on to its structure.

In 2016, the statue was given a full restoration and facelift. Conclusion: at more than 750 years old, the Big Buddha is in great shape!

• Read also: The Ryôzen Kannon, a giant statue in Kyoto

A bronze giant one must visit!

If we do not know the artist who produced the statue, specialists agree that his style was influenced by the Kei school of sculpture (a school that appeared at the beginning of the Kamakura period, 1185- 1333) as well as by a Chinese school of the Song dynasty (960–1279). Daibutsu is considered a classic example of the Buddhist sculptural style of the Kamakura period .

• Read also: Buddhist statuary

Amitabha: the Buddha of the Pure Land

The Great Kamakura Buddha statue represents Amitabha Buddha (Amida Butsu in Japanese) who is worshiped by adherents of the Buddhist sects of the Pure Land, a doctrine adopted by the Jodo and Jodo-Shinshu sects. in Japan. According to these Buddhist schools, those who venerate Amitabha are guaranteed to be reborn in paradise, that of the " Western Pure Land of Bliss" . Believers can achieve salvation by constantly reciting the Sutra invoking the name of the Buddha, which in Japanese gives the song "Namu Amida Butsu, Namu Amida Butsu…" (I search in Buddha Amitabha...).

• To read: Buddhism: a religion in Japan.

In the park surrounding the big Buddha, there are several stone slabs erected in honor of famous people. Commemorative plaques and a tree planted by members of the Thai royal family show the importance attached to this sacred place.

Behind, at the far end of the park, is a small Korean-style building that houses an original Korean statue (but barely visible) of Kannon, (the goddess of mercy).