For the second part of Kotoku-in in Kamakura, we will take a look at the actual statue of the renown Great Buddha (Daibutsu) bronze statue of Amida Buddha.
Looking at the area and seeing how much has changed over a hundred years later since the first photograph of Kotoku-in from back in 1867:
The original base was damaged during the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake and it was repaired in 1925 and further repairs in 1960-1961. But for the most part, while the stairs and certain aspects may have changed since the 1860’s, the Great Buddha statue that we see today is the same that people were seeing back in 1252 during the Kamakura Period.
According to Wikipedia:
The Kamakura period (鎌倉時代 Kamakura jidai, 1185–1333) is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shōgun, Minamoto no Yoritomo. The period is known for the emergence of the samurai, the warrior caste, and for the establishment of feudalism in Japan.
The place can get crowded and I had to time my shots when crowds left the area. It wasn’t easy but I was able to get a few shots with less than a handful of people, but you just have to be patient or get there early or be the last one leaving. But if you are there around morning to early afternoon, you should expect to see many people in the area.
In tomorrow’s post, we’ll take a look at the interior of the statue!
