The Great Buddha of Kamakura

The Great Buddha of Kamakura, which is also the symbol of Kamakura, is the principal object of worship of the Kotoku-in Temple, and is designated as a national treasure. The official name is Douzou Amida Nyorai Zo. It is about 11.3 meters tall and the weight is about 121 tons, making it the second largest Buddha statue after the Great Buddha of Nara. It is said that the construction of this Great Buddha first began more than 750 years ago, around the year 1252.

At the time of its construction, the Buddha was built with wooden structures and covered with golden gilt. However, records indicate that it collapsed from strong winds that occurred during the Muromachi period and the major earthquake that occurred during the Age of Civil Wars. The Buddha was eventually rebuilt in the middle of the Edo period, and has reached the present day as a symbol of Buddhism’s Eastern influence. Because the interior of the Great Buddha is hollow, you can also have a valuable experience of entering the statue.