Great Buddha of Takaoka, Buddhist statue at Daibutsu-ji Temple in Takaoka, Japan.
The Great Buddha of Takaoka is a seated Amida figure made of copper at Daibutsu Temple in Takaoka, Japan. The Buddha sits inside an open pagoda and is surrounded by a small temple grounds with trees.
A wooden Buddha stood here from 1221, but fires destroyed it twice. The current copper version was built between 1907 and 1933.
The statue showcases the skill of local artisans who have worked copper for centuries, making the city a center for metal craftsmanship. Visitors can see in the surface details how carefully the panels were joined together.
A corridor beneath the Buddha displays 13 Buddhist paintings and remnants of the earlier statue. Access is free and the area around the figure is compact and easy to walk.
The poet Yosano Akiko called the face of the figure more handsome than that of the famous Buddha in Kamakura. The facial features appear especially soft and expressive thanks to the refined copper work.
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