About
When you step into the grounds of Kotoku-in, nestled in the valley of Hase in Kamakura, the gigantic seated statue of Amida Nyorai towering before you quietly welcomes visitors. It is said that the casting of this Kamakura Great Buddha began in 1252 (the 4th year of the Kencho era) and was completed over approximately ten years. Standing about 11.3 meters tall and weighing around 121 tons, this revered statue was once covered in gold leaf, and its brilliance reportedly caught people’s eyes even from afar. (kotoku-in.jp)
Originally, the Great Buddha was enshrined inside a magnificent hall, but repeated typhoons and large tsunamis caused the hall to collapse, and by the end of the 15th century, the statue came to sit outdoors as it does now. Scattered around the grounds are foundation stones from the former Great Buddha Hall, which still convey its scale and splendor. (cms.trip-kamakura.com)
Behind the Great Buddha, the Kangetsudo Hall, built in the mid-Edo period, stands quietly. This hall is said to have originally been built within the Korean royal palace and was relocated to the Kotoku-in grounds in 1924 (Taisho 13). Inside, a statue of Sho Kannon, said to have been owned by Tokugawa Hidetada, is enshrined. (oricon.co.jp)
Next to the Great Buddha, a gigantic straw sandal about 1.8 meters long and weighing about 45 kilograms is hung. This was dedicated in 1951 by a children’s association from Ibaraki Prefecture with the wish that “the Great Buddha would travel throughout Japan and bring happiness to people,” and since then, it has been replaced with a new one every three years. (oricon.co.jp)
As you walk through the grounds, you will notice a monument inscribed with a poem by the poet Akiko Yosano. Facing the Great Buddha, she composed the verse, “Kamakura ya mihotoke naredo Shakamuni wa binan ni ohasu natsu kodachi kana,” praising its beauty. (plus.rurubu.jp)
Around Kotoku-in, flowers bloom in every season: Somei Yoshino cherry and azaleas in spring, trumpet creeper and crape myrtle in summer, bush clover and autumn leaves in fall, and camellia sasanqua and daffodils in winter delight the eyes of visitors. (cms.trip-kamakura.com)
When you visit this place, your heart is cleansed by the harmonious space where the eternal history of the Kamakura Great Buddha, the faith passed down through the ages, and the beauty of nature come together. The gentle smile of the Great Buddha, standing in silence, gives each visitor a deep sense of peace and inspiration.