Big Buddha of Japanese Temple in Bodhgaya
ブッダガヤ日本寺の大仏
Bodhgaya is like a World Expo of Buddhism. Buddhist associations from various countries have built Buddhist temples and monasteries according to their architectural traditions. The photo was taken in the compound of Japanese temple. This statue may have influenced Indians to make similar constructions like Maitreya Project in Kushinagar, UP.
Buddha statues used to be kept in a temple or special building regardless of their size. A temple in Kamakura near Tokyo had a big Buddha statue kept in a building (Sri Lankans call it "image house"), but the building collapsed in 1369. The temple could not afford the reconstruction and later abandoned the idea as exposed Buddha became famous. This was how the construction of outdoor Buddha statues started and became a Japanese tradition.
Frankly speaking, outdoor religious statues are eyesores, at least, for me. They are built to force people to see religious idols regardless of their religion and aesthetic preference, and often spoil landscape (this is bad especially for photo enthusiasts). Some say it is rude to Buddha.
People working for Maitreya Project once showed me photos of outdoor statues of Buddha, Maitreya and Avalokitesvara in Japan, and said the Japanese examples were good reference for their project.
Oh, my Buddha (^^;)
Big Buddha of Japanese Temple in Bodhgaya
ブッダガヤ日本寺の大仏
Bodhgaya is like a World Expo of Buddhism. Buddhist associations from various countries have built Buddhist temples and monasteries according to their architectural traditions. The photo was taken in the compound of Japanese temple. This statue may have influenced Indians to make similar constructions like Maitreya Project in Kushinagar, UP.
Buddha statues used to be kept in a temple or special building regardless of their size. A temple in Kamakura near Tokyo had a big Buddha statue kept in a building (Sri Lankans call it "image house"), but the building collapsed in 1369. The temple could not afford the reconstruction and later abandoned the idea as exposed Buddha became famous. This was how the construction of outdoor Buddha statues started and became a Japanese tradition.
Frankly speaking, outdoor religious statues are eyesores, at least, for me. They are built to force people to see religious idols regardless of their religion and aesthetic preference, and often spoil landscape (this is bad especially for photo enthusiasts). Some say it is rude to Buddha.
People working for Maitreya Project once showed me photos of outdoor statues of Buddha, Maitreya and Avalokitesvara in Japan, and said the Japanese examples were good reference for their project.
Oh, my Buddha (^^;)