Little Buddhas, or Rakan
Near Kyoto, Japan
I came across this scene not far from a temple in Kyoto. The hundreds of stones had been there a long time, by looking at the moss and lichen that had accumulated. This display is known as the 1200 buddhas. The statues are called "rakan." There are 500 different rakan in Japan, each represents one of the legendary 500 disciples of Buddha. The official name of this place is Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple in Arashiyama, Kyoto.
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Kita writes:
I remember this place. It is the graveyard of a thousand souls. I know that a thousand buddhas were built here to guide lost souls after a battle. The buddhas also represented those who died. I'm pretty sure thought that they didn't really have a thousand, for it didn't look that way when I saw it. My great great great great great great great grandfather died here, that's how I know. There are many legends surrounding this place and supposedly "curses".
Andrea writes:
Any chance it was at Otagi-Nenbutsu-ji in Arashiyama?
http://andreakw.blogspot.com/2006/12/otagi-nenbutsu-ji.html
Kevin Kelly
writes:
Andrea, it is very possible it was. Using your suggestion as a start, my research shows this temple is near Kyoto, which I did visit, and that the sculptures were started in the 1955 (I visited in 1972) which also works out. So I will amend my caption to reflect this information. Thank you!