Fukuoka｜The majestic 10.8-meter wooden Great Buddha of Fukuoka, the first temple Kobo Daishi visited after his training in the Tang Dynasty - Tochoji Temple

When talking about Japanese Buddhism, we cannot fail to mention Kobo Daishi, who was a Buddhist monk who studied in Japan during the Tang Dynasty. He learned from Huiguo of Qinglong Temple in Chang'an and his Buddhist name was Kukai. There is a saying in Japan that goes, "Daishi was named after Kobo, Taigo was named after Hideyoshi, and Sanzang was named after Xuanzang." My own translation is that Kobo took the name of Daishi, Hideyoshi took the name of Taigo, and Xuanzang took the name of Sanzang. This shows the influence of Master Hongfa. There are 88 temples related to him in Shikoku, also known as Shikoku 88-kasho. Tochoji Temple is the first temple founded by Kobo Daishi after he returned to Japan. Its official name is Tochomitsuji Temple, with the wish that Esoteric Buddhism would be spread in the East for a long time. There are many precious ancient Buddha statues in the temple, such as the 11-faced Guanyin, Mahakala, etc.; there is also a wooden Thousand-armed Guanyin statue in the main hall. Since you can’t take photos, you can only come here to experience it in person. Also not allowed to be photographed but can only be seen with your own eyes is the Fukuoka Great Buddha, which weighs 30 tons and is 10.8 meters tall. It symbolizes the 108 worries of mankind and is the largest wooden Buddha statue in Japan. When you worship in front of the Giant Buddha, in addition to being surrounded by a majestic atmosphere, you can also experience a tour of hell and paradise under the Buddha's seat. In the dark room, you walk by holding on to the wall. It is said that if you touch the Buddha's wheel, you can go to the Pure Land of Paradise. The vermilion five-story pagoda built in 2001 was entirely constructed using a construction method without using a single nail, and houses the relics of Sakyamuni Buddha. The Hexagonal Hall is also a highlight. The hexagonal niche inside enshrines Manjushri Bodhisattva, Medicine Buddha, White-robed Guanyin, and Master Hongfa. It is worth mentioning that at the Ximending Mazu Temple, one can also worship the statue of Master Hongfa, and also see the spread of religion in the course of history. 📍Address: 〒812-0037 Fukuoka Prefecture Fukuoka City Hakata District Gokusho-cho 2-4 🚗One minute walk from Gion Subway Station #MarchGoodPlaces2025