Shinshūōtaniha gifu betsu-in, Buddhist temple in Gifu, Japan.
The Shinshūōtaniha gifu betsu-in is a Buddhist temple in Gifu featuring a 13.7-meter tall Great Buddha statue covered in gold leaf. The temple is distinguished by 500 wooden statues along its walls depicting Buddha's disciples.
Construction of the Great Buddha statue began in 1790 under Priest Ichyuu and took around 40 years to complete in 1832 under Priest Kohshuu. This extended construction period reflects the substantial effort required to create this major religious work.
The wooden statues lining the temple walls show Buddha's disciples, each with distinct facial features and expressions. They give a sense of how visitors and believers experience this space as a place of reverence and reflection.
The temple is easy to reach on foot and well signposted, making navigation straightforward. Visitors should come with respectful clothing and be prepared for a quiet, contemplative setting.
The Great Buddha statue has an unusual internal structure with Buddhist scriptures from different regions layered between bamboo slats and clay before the gold coating was applied. This hidden construction reveals the care taken with the work's inner structure.
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