竹成五百羅漢, Stone Buddha monument in Komono, Japan
The Takesei Five Hundred Rakan is a collection of 469 stone statues arranged on an earthen mound at Dainichido Temple. Each statue displays different poses and facial expressions, representing various Buddhist and Shinto figures carved individually into the hillside.
Buddhist monk Shoku began construction of the stone statues in 1852, and stone mason Ishicho completed the project in 1866. The 14-year effort created one of the region's most distinctive religious monuments.
Each stone statue displays different poses and expressions, representing Buddhist saints, celestial beings, and local religious figures of the Edo period.
The temple is accessible from Kintetsu Komono Station, with free parking available on the grounds. Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to walk up the spiral path to explore the entire collection.
A spiral pathway winds up the mound, leading to the summit where the central Dainichi Buddha sits among other stone figures. This elevated vantage point allows visitors to see how all the statues are positioned across the entire hillside.
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