JAPAN'S TEMPLES

Wairarapa Age, 22 December 1919, Page 5

JAPAN'S TEMPLES

Egypt built her monuments iq atone; Japan built most of hers in wood. Tho Egyptian pyramids were thou*' sands of years old when Kamftkur* was built. To-day tho pyramids seem no older, but Kamakura's greatness U only a memory. A few temples built from tho wreck, after lire and tidal waves had clostroycd tho city, are all that havo remained, and thoy are fra* temples of wood. In one tcrnplo tho imago is a Japs* rieso conception of tho god of the '.owcr world. Tho figure has an unusual history. An imago-maker, it is laid, died. When ho appeared before tho lord of tho other world, ho wan Sold that in his lifetime ho had never represented tho lord of tho world properly, and that ho must return to earth uid mako a correct likeness. The figure is pointed out as the result of tho ore^er. Tho most remarkable image itt Kamakura is not in a temple. It ia tho Well-known Dai Butsu, or great Buddah, which Bits nlono in moditar iion with only tho sky for a roof, uul casual visitors and a priest in attendance. The grovo which surrounds tho Buddah seems dwarfed be* sido his giant proportions. Tho statue is said to measure fifty feet in height, "ho hcael alone being nine fet high. This giant Buddah is one of tho rolica >f Kamakura's thirteenth century jrcatnosß. It has survived because it : a made of bronze platen, fashioned by ho best motal workers in Japan. It s one of Japan 'a very fow monuments hat can aspiro to rival in longevity ;hc pyramids.