Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-02-08
"DAI BUTZU.o
A yisi, ton Famous Japanese statue.

most famous of japanese statues. The
Dai Butzu, says the writer
early Sunday morning a party OF
three of us started from Yokohoma on
n ride to the far-famcd statue Of Dai
Butzu at Kamakura. Anxious TO
avoid the MONDAY heat as much as pos
sible, we started at early dawn. Our
road led MS along the canal through the
outlying villages in the suburbs OF the
settlement. The people were just be
ginning to rise and cverything-except
the canal appeared fresh and cheerful
Looking at the sluggish waters OF the
canal covered with slum, and inhaling
its odors, which came up on every
hand, we ceased to wonder at the
rapidity and fatality with which dis
eases-espccially cholcra-arose and
spread among the native people. 1t
was an immense relief when We crossed
the last bridge of the canal where it
enters a long cut through the rocky
hills, and found ourselves in the open
country. This cut is one made for the
benefit Of the kerosene trade, and took
two years TO finish il, besides the outlay
of large sum of money. 1t is looked
upon by the Japs as a big piece of
engineering. Leaving the canal be
hind MS, our road wound among the
rice fields, now passing through some
small village. and then down a narrow
path lined with tall bushes that shook
their gli,tcning dcw-drops over us as
We rushed by.
The rising sun saw us passing 10y
the plains Of Heaven" The road
lscendcd and passed along the brow Of
a small hill, covered with "A heavy
growth Of ccdars, below us, stretching
tar away without a sign of human life
to mar the calm beauty Of the scene,
lay the tcrraccd rice fields with their
green plants. Far of ahead of us, a
single conical hill separated the valley
from the one beyond, while opposite 70
the spot where we fingered by the gates
but entered not. the fields rose with a
gradual swell tin. the view was ended
by grove Of ccdars. II was magni-
Gccut sight and one which fully justi-
fed tn" name the people had given il.
After tarrying here as long as We
dared, we pushed rapidly on, pass
ing numerous villages and small
temples. besides the waysidc shriues
which are 20 be found everywhere.
The sun was hcgiuningto feel very
uncomfortable when, at 1890 A. NJ.
we entered the outskirts of the Village
of Kamakura. Passing through the
village we entered the immense temple
which is here. and rode for some time
under the shadows of tho great
~edars which are the crowning beauty
II the place Tho limits of thotcmglr
seemed very large and and it was not
tin II T. VI. that we caught the rrlcc-
ti"n The sun from tho bronze head
of Dai Bu'zu
Approaching tho statue the face has
% remarkable pyprcs-ian of placid To-
posse. and notwithstanding its immense
size, Is So admirably proportioncd that
it Iusr- nothiug.of its effect on a near
approach. 1t is Gfty feet high and
nnty-,ix feet in circumference, the
face being eight and a half feet in
length The knee is thirty-cight feet
IN diameter and the thumb three and a
/ half feet in circumference 1t is cast
i'm several places, the lines Of jointure
being plainly seen and represents the
god sitting on pedestal with his legs
crossed in front of him and his hands
claspcd. II was cast in \. ID. 1852 at
the desire Of one OF the "Shoguns" or
native governors. The casting is hol-
low. and one realizes more fully its i'm.
mcnsc size when standing inside and
seeing the ladders which lead up into
| the domc-lkc head. The inside is
fitted mp As a temple with numerous
little statues arranged around its sides.
Finding that a native photographer
had taken up his residence here. for the
purpose Of supplying visitors with
photographs Of the statue. and always
dcSirous Of improving our opportuni-
ties. the three Of us perched ourselves
on the gods thumb-nails and had our
pictures taken. II is by such contrasts
of the size Of the human frame with
thoimage that the photographer best
expresses in picture the immesity Of
the casting. II is said that at Nara there
is another casting of the same image,
the face of which is sixteen feet long.
and yet the hight Of the statue is said