A Brief History of the Kamakura Dai-butsu 
I N the year 737, A.D., the Emperor SHOMU, being a sincere devotee to Buddhism, 
caused numerous monasteries to be erected throughout Japan, and, among the 
other churches thus built and endowed by His Majesty, is that known as the 
“ Kotoku-in ” at Kamakura. 
In the grounds of this ancient fane stands the famous colossal bronze image of 
the Great Buddha which was cast in September 1262, A.D., by the celebrated glyptic 
artist UN'O-GOROE-MON in accordance with commands received from the SII0GI T N 
(Prince MUNETAKA) who assisted IDANO-NO-TSUBONE to carry out her pious desire of 
fulfilling the dying injunctions of MINAMOTO-NO-YORITOMO, one of whose waiting 
ladies she had been. The image was much injured by a tidal wave which swept 
over the site of the monastery in 1495, A.D., yet, notwithstanding the ravages of time, 
and the fury of the elements, it is in a state of excellent preservation and repair. 
It is 12.89m. in height ; 29.29m. in circumference; the length of the face is 
2 33m., of the eye 1. m , of the ear 2.01m., and of the nose 85cm. The breadth of 
the mouth is 84cm., the length from knee to knee 9.09m. and the circumference 
of the thumb is 84cm. 
The prior 
