The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1879-01-23
Japanese Wonders.

If there was nothing else to mark the
skill, genius and artistic workmanship
of the japanese, the great bronze statute
of Dia BOOtsz would be sufficient to
make their name imperishable. DiJ
| BOOtsz would be worthy of a place
among the wonders of the world,
! equally so with the Colossus Of Rhodes,
| CleOpatra's Needle or the SDhvnx of
/ Egypt. This sacred image was not only
| built of bronze, but the Joints were so
exact in their fit that they were barely
| perceptible to the closest observer. Its
| base rested on a dais of masonry about
| 3 feet in height The elevation of the
body was 5 jos or so feet; between the
/ edge of the hair of the head and the
legs crossed, A feet; from knee to knee,
seated CrOss-legged, 80 feet, and the cir
conference Of the body was So feet.
| The following were the minor dimen-
siOns: Face, 81 feet long; circular spot
OH forehead, II feet in circumference ;
eyes, four feet long eyebrows, four feet
| two and a half inches; ears, six feet
seven inches; nose, three feet nine
inches vertical and two feet four
inches horizontal measurement; mouth,
| four feet three and a half inches wide /;
shaved portion Of head on top called
Xix kOkee, two feet four inches in diam
eteT. The spirally cUrled locks of hair
on the head were nine and Il half inches
wide and $50 in number; each thumb
measured three feet in circumference;
these figures will convey some idea of
the dimensions, if not the magnificence,
of this almost superhuman exhibition Of
Japanese art. The interior of the
statue formed a beautiful temple, in
which were gilded images of Buddhist
saints, with CrOziers and glOries and
other appropriate objects of worship or
reverence. In front and at the feet of
the statue was an altar, on which were
incense pots and Urns, to receive the
vOtiye offerings of visitors attracted
thither by sentiment of religious fervOr
or curiosity. Near by was a residence
Of the pTiestly CUstOdians of the sacred
place. Here also were pictures of the
prophet, and refreshing potatiOns Of tea
were purchasable at low rates. The
scenic effects of the immediate Surround
Ings Ofthe place were in keeping with the
statue. The back ground consisted Of
a mass Of green and towering trees, the
broad way leading up was raised at
regular intervals by small steps, and on
either side, growing mall the lUXuriance
of the country, were azalas Towering
plants. The magnificent statue itself
out Of this scene of beauty rose in all its
magnitude and symmetry of proper
tiOns. Before it at q short distance,
could be seen the rolling i1digO-blue
Of the waves of the ocean. Tie ancient
magnihCence of Kamakura was attested
by the numerous ruins which stTeW the
plains. Here are hundreds of temples
and shrines; the Hachiman-gin temple
Of Hachiman) q deifed hero of the
bushi military class several lori (stOne
pOrtals), supposed to have been the re-
mains Of some sacred yestibule; the
Aka-bash (Ked Bridge) Niwoomou
(gate Of two kings; a belfry ,shinOO),
in which a large bronze bell, made to
.resOund on religious occasions by strik-
ing with a piece of timber swung on
ropes. In this temple said to have been
the oldest in the empire, was the famous
stone resorted to by the feminine part
of the MikadO's subjects for the property
Of curing barrenness. 1t had from time
immemOrial been visited for the pUr-
poses in view. This extraordinary stone
was a boulder about four feet in length,
rallied in so a S to prevent too ardent a
rush for its offices, and near the stone an
urn for the offerings of the devOut and
CredulOus. In the rear, reached by a
long flight of steps, was q small temple,
in which the renowned TaikO-samO, the
first Of the ShiogOOns, wOrshiped the
divinities of his country.