Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-03
The Great Bronze God.

The tree bordered, gray stone walk which
brings you to Daibutz was sk1llfully cOntr1ved
den step brought us full into the presence OF
nlS bronze majesty, In the very spot where he
has rested imlnobile for over six hundred years
a. ne iOomeo up right before us, colossal figure
OF buddha represented sitting, oriental fashion
on tremendous granite platform. His great
hanos were lying palm up on his enormous lap,
ana the sitting posture and the inadequatefy
low peoesta1 made the figure look so (itSprODOr-
tfonately broad that 1t was at first difficuIr m
realize its height But glance at The sur
rounding trees and buildings over which it
lowers, ana the feeling OF being microscopically
minute which crept over us, soon brought us to
the sense OF its size. 1t bears strong family like
ness 10 all other images of Buddha but it's pro-
R wS,Ie ms render IL unusually Impressive for
rise superior to the toy idols of the mantle
piece, god forty-four feet high and eighty
half-foot face. thirty -four foot knee, and a
thumb three and half feet In circumference is
not TO be sneeZed at. Huge earrings and close
lifting. bead-hke headd dress give 1t rather
god was ordered by piOus empress of japan,
who commanded contributions OF copper coin
from all the faithful, and received enough to
melt over into this immense image. We were
struck at once by the discOlored appearance OF
the bronze, which Is gray. notified, and weather
beaten from the suns and storms of six centu-
Iies, and then by the wonderful expression of the
figure, whicn is the embodiment of majestic re-
pose. 1t Is somehow more natural to look to
the texture than TO the meaning of any oriental
Work OF art. and their Intelligent expression OF
an loea was always surprise. In our lordly
way, we expected skill rather than ideas from
mem, put acquaintance with them very soon
c1tannged that misconceptiOA. Like all images
oa buaaha Daibutz repays study 1t Is artistl-
caIIy valuable as the almost perfect ex pressiOn
vi gIano ldea~the idea OF divine repOSe
InSIe Is mourning dull In its immobility vet
notnng sphinx like behind its Serenity: no
Iidole 10 unrayel or to vex you. Iti simply
oas peIlecuon OF Philosophy passionless
feet qualification OF all the faculties. the copsa
qaent absence Of desire or unrest. Those who
sluoy ana love IL fancy that the SMELL Of ifs
quiet serenity 0eScends upon them and tiIS
them. Like hasheesh or the lotus, with a sense
OF perfect peace. Our merry crowd were each
ahQ all Just little touched by the grand Old
gou, ana oefore we LEFT we had mutually con-
,ssseN leeMngs OF respect and admiration for
nitn. ana unanimously resolved that he should
anoIn our parlors were he only few degrees
smaller: We were then shown 10 a small dark
uoOl winch LED (fOr the image Is utterly hollow
Into us very bosom. v hich Is lifted up in rude
way as temple. A break neck climb up yer.
.epiai stalWay TOOK US TO the small window
winch made darknt IS visible, whence we Could
look op the comparatively LfIiiputian grove
when anordS shelter to picnic parties and
makes shortwaiSted background In tho sixfv
odo ieet or Daioutz and pedestal
while In the Interior 1t seemed fncredihla that
THIS monstrouS image could be the work OF the
puny japanese: lt was cast, We were told. I'm
one casting. The bronze OF which It is made ia
excellent In quality, containing considerable
gold. Gold was once very cheap In Japan and
as late as 1000 they exchanged gold for silver
weight for weight, with the Dutch-NinnLe n
UnseT- in Ju,v Californian.