Outbound to Gufu + Tokyo Japan, Day 13 of 19, October 16, 2017
Todaiji, Kasuga Shrine & Nara Deer Park
By: Monika O
Tōdai-Ji TempleToday we visited the Tōdai-Ji Temple. This temple houses the largest Statue of Buddha in Japan. It was founded in 728 for the repose of the spirit of Crown Prince Motoi, son of Emperor Shōmu and completed in 749. Since then it has been destroyed and reconstructed several times. The Buddha is made of gilded bronze, unlike the giant Buddha statue we saw in Gifu which is wood sheathed in gold leaf.
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| Note the size of Buddah's Nostril |
One of the temple’s massive cedar columns has a hole in its base that is said to be the same size as one of the nostrils on the giant Buddha, and if you crawl through it, it will lead to enlightenment in your next life. Lynn did it!
We arrived there amid a light rain and enjoyed interacting with the many (more than 1000) very tame deer in residence.
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| Wet, wild deer - ready for rice crackers |
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
A short bus ride later took us to Kasuga Taisha Shinto shrine which is famous for its lanterns, which have been donated by worshipers. Hundreds of bronze lanterns can be found hanging from the buildings. The lanterns are only lit twice a year during two Lantern Festivals, one in early February and one in mid August. It was fascinating to see the hundreds of stone lanterns lining the approaches to the Shinto shrine. Worshipers make donations to have the lantern lit and their wished granted.
We returned to the bus amid a quite heavy rain and returned to Kyoto.
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