Last weekend we took a trip to Kamakura to visit the big Buddha. Max was a champ riding the subway and showed signs of becoming a true straphanger or as Rich likes to put it "a future salaryman". Kamakura is important historically for the Japanese. The first shogunate was established in Kamakura in 1192 and lasted until 1333. More interesting to me is that the Buddha was cast in 1252. Apparently a woman and a priest came up with the idea and also collected donations for the construction. (The birth of fundraising in Japan, perhaps?)
Max and Rich riding the subway.
Some perspective on the Buddha's size.
The statue survived a major tsunami in 1498 that swept away the entire town and the temple covering it.
Sitting placidly for the past 750 years, the buddha is 13.35 meters (about 44 feet) tall and weighs 121 tons.
Max and Rich riding the subway. Some perspective on the Buddha's size. Max getting into trouble.
3 comments:
Alexander wants to know why the sign is written in English.
ummm, for the stupid tourists????
Interesting. I like this post. You have a talent for this blog thing Heather.
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