Gifu Great Buddha, Buddhist statue at Shōhō-ji Temple, Gifu, Japan
The Gifu Great Buddha stands within Shōhō-ji Temple and rises approximately 13.6 meters tall. Its face is round and gentle, and the entire surface is covered with gold leaf that glows with a warm, soft shine.
A Buddhist priest named Ichyuu initiated the project in 1790 and dedicated nearly four decades to its realization. Once finished in 1832, it became a religious monument of regional importance.
The Buddha statue functions as a sacred site where visitors and worshippers engage in prayer and reflection. It remains an active place of spiritual practice for the local Buddhist community.
The temple sits in a quiet area, and visiting in the morning or early afternoon typically means fewer crowds. The location is fairly accessible and offers room to walk around and view the statue from different angles.
Hidden inside the statue is a trunk made from ginkgo wood that serves as a central support pillar holding the entire structure. Bamboo lattices beneath the outer layer form the framework that holds the gold and lacquer coating.
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