The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-08-15
A GisantIc tapanese Status.

The Philadelphia Press says: If there
we're nothing else to mark the skill, gen.
ius and artistic workmanship of the.
Japanese, the great bronze statue Of Dia
Bootsz would Be sufficient to make their
haine imperishable. Dia Bootss would
be worthy of place among the wonders
of the world, equally 30 with the Colos-
sus of Rhodes, Cleopatra's Needles or
the Sphinx of Egypt. This sacred inn
aga was not only built of bronze, but the
joints were 30 exact in their at that they
were barely perceptible 70 the closest
masonry about Ave feet in height. The
fifty feet, between the edge of the hair
OF the head and the legs crossed, forty
two feet; from knee to knee, seated
cross-legged, thirty-six feet. and the
circumference of the body was ninety
eight feet. The following were the
minor dimensions. Face, eight and q
half feet long; circular spot on forehead,
one and half feet in circumference;
eyes four feet long; eyebrows, four feet
two and a half inches; ear, six feet
seven inches; nose three feet nine
inches vertical and two feet four inches
horizontal measurement; mouth, four
feet three and half inches wide; shaved
portion of head on top, called kik kokee,
two feet four inches in diameter. The
spirally curled locks of hair on the head
were nine and half inches wide and $50
in number. Each thumb measured
three feet in circumference. These fig
ures will convey some idea of the dimen-
SONS, if not the magnihcence, Of this
almost superhuman exhibition of Japan
ese art. The interior OF the statue
formed a beautiful temple, in which
gilt images of Buddhist saints, with
croziers and glories and other appropri-
ate objects of worship or reverence. In
| front and ut the foot of the statue was
an altar, on which were incense pots and
urns. to receive the votive offerings of
visitors attracted thither by sentiments
of religious fervor or curiosity. Near by
was the residence of the priestly custodi-
ans of the sacred place. Here also we're
pictures os the prophet, and refreshing
potations of tea were purchasable at
mediate surroundings of the place were
in keeping with the statue. The back
ground consisted of mass of gre and
towering trees, the broad way leading
up was raised at regular intervals by
small steps, and on either side, growing
in all the luxuriance of the country,
we're azaleas and towering plants. The
magnificent statue itself out of this
scene of beauty rose in all its magnitude
and symmetry of proportions. Before
1t at short distance could be seen the
rolling indigo-blue waves of the ocean.
The ancient magnifcence of Kamakura
was attested by the numerous ruins
which strew the plains. Here are hun.
dreds of temples and shrines; the
Hachiman giu (temple of Hachiman) a
deifed hero of the bushi military class
several tori (stone portals), supposed to
have been the remains of some sacred
vestibule; the Aka bash (Red Bridge)
Niwoomou (gate of the two kings); 9
belfry (shinroo), in which was a large
bronze bell, made to resound on relig.
ious occasions by striking with piece
of timber swung on ropes. In this
temple, said to have been the Oldest ir
the empire, was the famous stone
resorted to by the feminine part of the
mikados subjects for the property o.
curing barrenness. In the rear, reached
by long flight of steps, was a small
temple, in which the renowned Taiko
samo, the first of the Shiogoons, wor
shipped the divinities of his country.