The Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at Kamakura was constructed out of bronze in the year 1252 AD and stands (sits?) nearly 50 feet tall. A notice at the entrance to the site reads:
"Stranger, whosoever thou art, and whatsoever be thy creed, when thou enterest this sanctuary remember thou treadest upon ground hallowed by the worship of ages. This is the Temple of Buddha and the gate of the Eternal, and should therefore be entered with reverence."
(Photo Copyright © Chad Fahs)
These Fuji Instax photos capture Jizō statues found throughout Tokyo, Japan. Revered in Buddhism as the protector of travelers and the souls of deceased children, the Jizō is often seen in Japanese cemeteries. Respectfully called Ojizō-sama, these statues are frequently adorned with items left by grieving parents, such as knit caps, bibs, or toys. According to tradition, Jizō guards these souls in the afterlife, helping them cross the Sanzu River (comparable to the Greek River Styx) while hiding them beneath his robes to avoid detection by demons.
(Photos Copyright © Chad Fahs)