Statues at Daian-zenji Temple

Meet wooden statues more than 1,000 years old!

Takako Sakamoto Jun 17, 2014 - 2 min read

<p>Small Jizo statue and hydrangea I found on the way to Daian-zenji Temple</p>

<p>Another Jizo statue on the path. There were four statues lining the road</p>

<p>The third statue, and wild hydrangeas along the road</p>

<p>Four small Jijo statues and wild hydrangeas in the woods. Jizo statues look happy having lovely companions at this time of the year</p>

<p>Very small Kannon statue (goddess of mercy) I found on the way to the cemetery of the Matsudaira Clan</p>

<p>Statue of goddess of mercy for children on the grounds of Daian-zenji Temple</p>

<p>Wooden statue of Dainichi-Nyorai (Vairocana) made during the late Heian Period (794 - 1185) in the entrance hall of the temple</p>

<p>The wooden statue of Sei-Kannon Buddha (Avalokiteśvara), made during the Kamakura Period (1185 –1333)</p>

<p>This statue was so handsome that I couldn't keep my eyes off him!</p>

<p>Dainichi-Nyorai (Vairocana) viewed from the side. He looks so serene</p>

<p>Wooden statue of Shaka-Nyorai (Buddha) made during the Edo period (1603 - 1868)</p>

<p>Dainichi-Nyorai (Vairocana) viewed from the other side</p>

<p>The statue's right arm is missing, its left arm is broken, and both legs are half missing as well, but he still sits silently...for more than 1,000 years!  </p>

Although I went to Daian-zenji Temple in Fukui just to see irises, I found lots lots more than just flowers there and here is one of the delights I found at the temple: Statues. There were a lot of them both inside and outside the temple buildings. The most impressive was an old wooden statue without one arm and both legs which was made during the Heian Period (794 - 1185) in one of the temple buildings, but the small Jizo statues along the walking path also delighted me. They looked just happy surrounded by wild flowers in the woods! Other than these, you can also visit the cemetery of the lords of Fukui's Matsudaira Clan and the local poet Tachibana Akemi's tomb in the hills surrounding the temple. The temple is a 30-minute drive from the center of Fukui city. Free parking is available.

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Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...