Togan-ji 桃願寺

Daibutsu of Nagoya

The Togan-ji, a Buddhist temple with Indian inspirations, preserves an impressive bronze colossus 15 meters high: the Daibutsu of Nagoya.

The Daibutsu of Nagoya

The giant Buddha of Togan-ji is a recent creation, given the secular history of the temple. It was only erected in 1987! This ten-meter high Daibutsu sits on an imposing five-meter pedestal wonderfully decorated.

Both the peaceful bronze figure and its plinth were covered in bright green in 2006. The gold leaf highlights on its forehead, eyes, mouth, and ears are more striking. The base bears an original decor, to say the least since it is adorned with human-sized devotees, deer, peacocks, and elephants!

This Indian-inspired decoration, the Daibutsu, owes it to a former priest of the temple who finished his doctorate in Buddhist philosophy in India.

To read: The Daibutsu of Kamakura

 

Unique treasures

This Indian influence is not limited to the sole ornament of the pedestal. Indeed, Togan-ji is also famous for its sanctuary dedicated to the Indian deity Sarasvati in which the sculpture of the sleeping goddess took place. As for the main building, it conceals little natural treasures.

 

tete-daibutsu-nagoya

The peaceful daibutsu of Nagoya

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Address, timetable & access

  • Address

  • Phone

    +81 (0)52 781 1427
  • Timetable

    Exit at Motoyama Station on the Higashiyama or Meijyo subway line. Take exit 6 then walk about 5 min.
  • Price

    1,000 yen ($8/7€) to access the Sarasvati temple.
  • Access

    Open every day.

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