Ōfuna-Kannon
The Ōfuna-Kannon ( Japanese 大船 観 音 ) is a free-standing Kannon sculpture on a hill in the former city of Ōfuna (part of Kamakura since 1948 ) in Kanagawa Prefecture , Japan.
history
In order to spread the nature of the Kannon as a pacifying saint, Prime Minister Kiyoura Keigo , as well as the member of the Secret State Council, Kaneko Kentarō , and other people suggested to erect a Kannon statue, which was then started in 1929 by the sculptor Yamazaki Chōun . In 1934 the company was well on its way, but then the company was canceled - perhaps because one of the sponsors died, because the money ran out or because the Sino-Japanese War had started.
After the end of the Pacific War , the head of the Sōtō direction of Buddhism, Takashina Rūsen (高階 瓏 仙; 1876–1968) stood up for continued work and was able to convince entrepreneurs like Gotō Keita and others in 1954 to merge to form the "Ōfuna Kannon Society" (大船 観 音 協会, Ōfuna Kannon Kyōkai) for the financing. Three years later, the funds had been brought together so that the sculptor Yamamoto Toyoichi (1899–1987) could be commissioned to complete the sculpture. The inauguration took place in 1960.
The attachment
The Kannon figure stands halfway up a mountain slope, about two hundred meters west of the Ōfuna train station . A stone staircase leads to her on the right. The figure is around 24 m high, 18 m wide and is made of 15 tons of concrete. On the head there is a kebutsu (化 仏), a small figure of a saint. On the chest is adorned with a cloak chain (瓔 珞, Yōraku). - You can enter the Kannon figure: there is a tiny model of the statue. At the height behind the Kannon there is a treasure pagoda (多 宝塔, Tahōtō), which is not generally accessible.
The Jikōdō (慈光堂) and Shōshinkaku (照 心 閣) buildings as well as a memorial stele on the occasion of the 25th return of the atomic bombing are on the site below the Kannon. When the Ōfuna Kannon Society dissolved in 1981, the derfuna Kannon Temple (大船 観 音 寺) was built below the Kannon at the instigation of the then head of the Sōtō School, Otogawa Kin'ei (乙 川 瑾 瑛).
Remarks
- ↑ Gotō Keita (五 島 慶 太; 1882-1959) was the founder and long-time president of the Tōkyū railway company . He made his art treasures available to the public in the Gotō Art Museum .
literature
- Kanagawa-ken kotogakko Kyoka kenkyukai shakaika bukai rekishi bunkakai (Ed.): Ōfuna Kannon . In: Kanagawa-ken no rekishi sampo (ge). Yamakawa Shuppan, 2005. ISBN 978-4-634-24814-4 .
Web links
Coordinates: 35 ° 21 '12.1 " N , 139 ° 31' 43.4" E