円徳寺, Buddhist temple in Gifu, Japan
Entokuji is a Buddhist temple in Gifu featuring a large dry lacquer Buddha statue that stands about 14 meters tall and ranks as the largest of its kind in Japan. The statue's size dominates the temple's interior space and draws visitors' attention immediately upon entering.
Construction began in 1638 during the Edo Period, and the temple later became affiliated with the Obaku Buddhist sect in 1692 through a connection with Manpukuji Temple. This change in affiliation shaped the temple's religious direction for centuries to come.
The temple houses 500 distinct statues of Buddha disciples displayed on the north and south walls, each one showing different expressions, clothing styles, and poses.
Visitors can reach the temple by taking bus number 12 from JR Gifu Station toward Gifu Park, then walking a short distance on foot. The area around the large statue offers clear views, and there is plenty of space to walk around and observe the various representations.
The large Buddha statue contains Buddhist scriptures within its clay structure, collected through travels across Japan. This hidden aspect gives the statue a spiritual depth that many visitors do not notice on their first visit.
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