Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1936-07-16
Bob4s
Ddvi/XX
MtBn5a2$
Centuries of Competition in Homage
to the Great Buddha

~ to meet Daibutsu, principal
of the Buddhistic divinities. Ev-
erywhere one turns is to be found
evidence of this transplanted re-
ligion out of India that entered
Japan in 552 A. D. Today 71,193
temples and 41,962,O adherents
testify to its influence in the Flow
cry Kingdom.
Out of Buddhism in this part of
the world eleven sects have sprung
up, the Shinshu, which discards the
idea of celibacy for the clergy, with
10000 temples and 100000 devo-
tees, leading by great majority.
During the earlier periods when
sects were forming at rate that
threatened to retard rather than
advance the teachings and spread
of Buddhism, the Emperor Shomu,
749 A. D., caused to be erected at +
Nara Daibutsu that still enjoys
the distinction of being the largest
metal image in the world Is
One standing in the presence BIZ
this amazing creation, more fea&s
some than words can convey, cab :
not but be impressed with it's char
acter and its immensely. The temple
in which it is housed offers little or
no light for the figure. From every
angle mighty pillars obstruct the
view of this somber, awe-spreading
colossus, twice almost destroyed by
fire, for centuries neglected, at last
restored by the Emperor Meiji, 1908,
and completed without the slightest
alteration in style by Emperor
Taisho, 1913.
Image is Sinister
The Nara Daibutsu, containing
437 tons of bronze, z tons of vege-
table wax, 238 pounds of gold, 165
pounds of mercury, the two latter
ingredients used solely for gliding,
although most of the glitter has
disappeared, leaving only a black
metallic epidermis, African in tone,
which gives the image sinister
character, suggesting something
medieval as it reposes cross-legged
in the shadows of the temple.
The right hand is open and held
waist high, the left likewise and
resting upon the knee, while the
figure itself is seated upon throne
of lotus leaves 68 feet in diameter,
made up of Sc petals. Behind this
furnished Daibutsu is a halo 80 feet
in height, containing IL small
images of Buddha, each nine feet in
height.
The sheltering temple, built the
following year, was completely de-
stroyed by fire in the Twelfth cen
fury, and with it the head and
shoulders of Daibutsu. BY imperial
order, the head was replaced and
new temple made ready in 1190.
But the monument to Buddha, al
though escaping destruction, was
not to enjoy peace, for, $40 years
later, the temple was again de-
stroyed by fire and the unfortunate
Daibutsu was exposed to the ele-
ments for more than a hundred
years, all of which added no luster
to it's appearance.
In the year 100, the temple, re-
built and completed after three
years labor, became the center of
Buddhist pilgrimages to the extent
of 3,000,000 people per annum, al
though in the next century the tenn
pie all but came to complete ruin.
The comparatively recent restora-
ton of the temple puts it in class
by itself: Width 1873 feet, depth 1865
feet, height 100 feet, and pillars, go
in number, 451A feet in diameter.
Said to be the largest wooden struc-
ture in the world.
A week later, at Kamakura, under
blue sky, the whole landscape
shimmering midst the verdure of
spring, in a forest of pine and
maple notified with cherry bios
SONS, I came suddenly upon an
other and smaller Daibutsu, cast 500
years later; work in green bronze.
AZ feet high, and weighing only AZ
tons.
Smaller Buddha Has Beauty
But there was beauty in the face,
humility in the downcast eyes and
Incompatible serenity in the pos
ture. The two hands are laid in the
lap, palms upward, thumbs touch
ing, the Buddhistic sign for stead
fast faith. And over all, ineffable
resignation approaching sublimity
to whomsoever would "look careful
ly within himself and find the
Buddha.
The Kamakura Daibutsu, cast in
1852 by Ono Goroemon, was orig
inally installed in a large building,
damaged in 1868 by storm and car
ried away by tidal wave in 1894,
two years after Columbus had sailed
his caravels into the Caribbean.
Since then it has remained uncov-
cred, sublime symbol of patience,
secure on it's pedestal, against
which the waters of the sea arose
in accordance with prophecy and
halted lest they disturb the medita-
tons that had remained unbroken
for 700 years.
To this traveller, as between the
Nara and the Kamakura Daibutsu.
the difference was as darkness and
light. One is mountain of crudity