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Great Buddha Of Kamakura / Kotokuin

800 Year Old Bronze Nyorai

The Great Buddha of Kamakura occupies a pivotal place in the history of Japanese Buddhist art, which began in 1252 during the Kamakura period and has characteristics of Chinese Buddhist statues from the Song Dynasty. At 11.3 meters tall and weighing about 121 tons, this bronze sitting statue of Amitabha Buddha is the second largest in Japan.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura 鎌倉大仏, also known as the Great Buddha of Nagatani 長谷の大仏, is located in the Kotoku-in Temple 高徳院 in the Nagatani district of Kamakura, and is the symbol of Kamakura.

This bronze Amitabha seated statue is 11.3 meters tall and weighs 121 tons, making it second only to The Great Buddha at Nara Todaiji Temple, and is Japan's Second Largest Buddhist Statue. The Great Buddha of Kamakura occupies a pivotal place in the history of Japanese Buddhist art and has long been recognized as a national treasure of Japan.

There is much uncertainty about the history of the Great Buddha, but it is thought to have been built in 1252 during the Kamakura period in Japan, hence its Artistic Characteristics of Chinese Buddhist Statues of Song Dynasty. Amitabha Buddha has a peaceful face, and his head is proportionately larger compared to the Buddha’s body, so that the head does not appear too small when viewed from the worshippers’ perspective.

The bronze lotus petals are engraved with text

The hollow interior of the Kamakura Great Buddha allows you to enter the Buddha’s body for worship, and Back of the Buddha has two air windows. At the time of its creation, a lotus pedestal consisting of 32 lotus petals was originally designed under the Buddha’s body, but only 4 of them were completed and are currently placed under the pedestal for viewing.

Manywhere Tips:
You can get inside the Big Buddha for just 20 yen (0.19 USD).

There are other affiliated buildings in the Kotoku compound, such as the Ni-oh Gate and the Moon Hall, but few people pay attention to them under the fame of the Kamakura Great Buddha.