Sanjūsangen-dō, Buddhist temple in Higashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Sanjūsangen-dō is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku whose main building stretches approximately 120 meters (390 feet) and forms one of the longest wooden halls in the city. Inside stand over 1,000 gilded wooden statues of the goddess Kannon arranged in rows that fill the entire space.
The temple was founded in 1164 and its original building was destroyed by fire in 1249. Craftsmen and sculptors rebuilt the hall and created most of the gilded statues visible today.
The name comes from the spacing of pillars running along the building, which follows a traditional Japanese measurement system. Visitors walk through the galleries and notice how each wooden statue has a distinct facial expression and carved detail.
Visitors enter the building from the east side and walk along a central aisle that allows a close view of the rows of statues. The sheer number of figures requires time to take in, so it helps to arrive with enough patience for a leisurely visit.
The building also contains a tiny statue of the goddess that measures just 5 centimeters (2 inches) tall and can easily be missed. This miniature figure sits among the larger statues and is often overlooked by visitors focused on the overwhelming number of bigger pieces.
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