Unique
Buddhist Sculpture MasterworksOne for sickness, 16 for happiness, and one for enlightenment
Kyoto has more Buddhist statues than any other place in Japan. Some of them are National Treasures and a few are rarely open to public viewing. However, all of them possess a mysterious power that is undeniable. The master sculptors that created them were so skilled that they were able to give each statue a unique spiritual energy. Below are three temples where Buddhist statues are particularly powerful and easy to see. Each of them has a fascinating background and each of them has the power to calm the heart of the viewer.
Anao-ji Temple’s “Reclining Buddha”
This
temple in Kameoka city is the 21st station on the well-known 33-temple Western
Japan pilgrimage route. Anao-ji’s 70-year-old Buddha, as its name
suggests, is reclined under a blanket. Under the head is a lotus-flower-shaped
pillow. The figure is a beautiful shiny black. When you gaze at it you can
almost hear the Buddha’s breathing. There is a story about this Buddha
that concerns a monk whose beautiful grand daughter was very sick. He searched
for a Buddha to cure her and this was the one. Today, many people come her
and rub the part of the Buddha where they are sick. Touching the Buddha
at this location is completely OK. Open: 9:00-16:00. Access: Take the JR
Sagano Line from Kyoto Stn. to Kameoka Stn; then take a 15-min. bus ride
to Anaoguchi bus stop. Tel: 0771-24-0809.Seigen-ji Temple’s “Juroku Rakan”
This quiet temple in Yagi-cho, a little west of Kameoka City is home to 16 precious wooden figures of Rakan. All of the figures were carved by the monk Myoman in 1806. Also known as Mokujiki, Myoman ate only nuts, berries, and a kind of buckwheat known as mokujiki. All the figures have round, gently smiling faces, each with a slightly different expression. On the back of 15 of the figures is written Rakan, the date of completion and Myoman’s signature. Only the last one has a different signature because Myoman was told to change his name in a dream. Seeing these figures will surely make you smile too. Note: to visit this temple you must make a reservation in advance. Entry: donation. Access: Take the JR Sagano line from Kyoto Stn. to Yagi Stn.; from there take a 10-min. taxi ride. Tel: 0771-42-3743.
Zenrin-ji Eikando Temple’s “Mikaeri Amida”
This
77-cm high wooden Amitabha Nyorai Buddha figures is believed to have been
carved in the early Kamakura period (1192-1333). There is a famous legend
connected with the figure. A long time ago, the monk Eikan, the 7th head
monk of Eikando temple, was doing walking meditation around the statue.
To his great surprise, the Buddha got off his altar and began walking in
circles too. Eikan was so amazed that he stopped walking and froze. Then
the Buddha turned his face back to Eikan and said: “Eikan Ososhi”
(Eikan, you are slow.). Since that time, the figure has always had its head
turned over his shoulder. The strong smile on the figure’s face is
said to lead people to enlightenment. Open: 9:00-16:00. Access: Take city
bus #5 from Kyoto Stn. to Nanzen-ji Eikando-mae; then walk 5 min. to the
east. Tel: 075-761-0007.