The is a large Buddhist statue located in
Shōhō-ji in
Gifu City
is a city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the Sengoku ...
,
Gifu Prefecture,
Japan. It was conceived by the 11th head priest of Kinpouzan Shōhō temple, Ichyuu, around 1790, in hopes of averting large earthquakes and famines. Ichyuu died in 1815 before it was completed, but his successor, Priest Kohshuu completed it in April 1832, after 38 years of construction. It is one of the three great Buddha portrait statues in Japan.
Construction
The Great Buddha of Gifu is unique due to the method of its construction. First, a central pillar 1.8 meters in circumference was formed from
ginkgo
''Ginkgo'' is a genus of non-flowering seed plants. The scientific name is also used as the English name. The order to which it belongs, Ginkgoales, first appeared in the Permian, 270 million years ago, and is now the only living genus with ...
tree wood. The Buddha's shape was then formed using
bamboo
Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, ...
lattices. The bamboo was covered with clay to add shape and many Buddhist
scripture
Religious texts, including scripture, are texts which various religions consider to be of central importance to their religious tradition. They differ from literature by being a compilation or discussion of beliefs, mythologies, ritual pra ...
s were then placed upon the clay. Finally, the scriptures were covered in
lacquer and
gold leaf, giving the Buddha the appearance that it has today.
Measurements
* Height of Statue:
* Length of Face:
* Length of Eyes:
* Length of Ears:
* Width of Mouth:
* Height of Nose:
Access
From
JR Gifu Station (Bus Platform 11) or
Meitetsu Gifu Station
is a railway station located in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, operated by the private railway operator Meitetsu. It is one of the two major railway stations of the city along with JR Gifu Station.
Lines
Meitetsu Gifu Station is t ...
(Bus Platform 4), board any bus towards Nagara. Get off the bus at "Gifu Koen, Rekishi Hakubutsukan-mae," approximately 15 minutes from the train stations.
See also
*
List of tallest statues
This list of tallest statues includes completed statues that are at least tall, which was the assumed height of the Colossus of Rhodes. The height values in this list are measured to the highest part of the human (or animal) figure, but exclude ...
References
Images
File:岐阜大仏-正法寺 (岐阜市) Gifudaibutsu001.jpg, Shōhō-ji
File:岐阜大仏-大仏殿-正法寺 (岐阜市)gifudaibutsu002.jpg, Shōhō-ji
File:岐阜大仏-正法寺 (岐阜市)gifudaibutsu003.jpg
File:岐阜大仏-正法寺 (岐阜市)Gifudaibutsu008.jpg
File:岐阜大仏-正法寺 (岐阜市)gifudaibutsu010.jpg
File:岐阜大仏-正法寺 (岐阜市)-五百羅漢Gifudaibutsu019.jpg
File:岐阜大仏-正法寺 (岐阜市)-五百羅漢gifudaibutsu024.jpg
{{Colossal Buddha statues
1832 establishments in Japan
1832 sculptures
Buildings and structures in Gifu
Tourist attractions in Gifu Prefecture
Colossal Buddha statues in Japan
Sculptures in Japan