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A VISIT TO SOME SACRED PLACES. 223
me. I have been here many times, and can tell you every-
thing."
He led the way up the broad path to the main temple,
before which stood a very fine bronze lantern, over six feet in
height.
T
This," said their guide, " was presented to the gods by
Yoritomo, seven hundred years ago, about which time the
original building was destroyed. The main gateway, with its
large figures, escaped the fire and is more than eleven hundred
years old. Will you kindly put off your shoes; then we will
go into the presence of the Dai Butsu."
They ascended the steps and entered the main building, in
which they beheld a bronze figure of Buddha, over sixty-three
feet high. The statue rested on the sacred lotus, and was gilt
in patches. Above the head rose a halo fourteen feet wide,
surmounting which was a forked glory,
for the figure.
that formed an arch
"My goodness !" whispered Fitz, "doesn't it look surly?"
5
That image contains five hundred pounds of gold," said
Mr. Nambo, "and weighs four hundred and fifty tons. It is
considered very holy. In the seventeenth century its head
was shaken off by an earthquake."
While he was speaking, his wife was devoutly praying
and counting her beads, while the Professor minutely exam-
ined the gigantic statue through his opera-glass.
In front of the halo, around the shoulders and head of the
god, were images of the sixteen Rakan (beloved disciples of
Buddha), which, Mr. Nambo stated, were eight feet in height.
The temple was literally crammed with deities, bronze
vases, and fine lanterns, that were the objects of the greatest
veneration to the crowds that flocked thither from all parts of
the Empire.