大仏

The shot is taken with the camera on the ground, an unusual angle that accentuates the Buddha's bowing posture. The bulletin board-like structures on the left and right have been moved. Nagasaki University has three other photos by Kusakabe which lack the structures. A couple of photos from pre-1919 on Flickr. NOW

Hi, this photo has been discussed in one of the threads in the Flickr Commons group, and we'd love to have this added to the group pool!

All of the photographs presented in this thread are terrific! This is an incredibly monumental sculpture which I would love to see in real life. :)

This is Kobe City's (Hyogo Prefecture) original Great Buddha, which was constructed during the Meiji Era (1868-1912). Unfortunately, this symbol of "peace" (as well as many, many others) was confiscated during World War II to be melted down for weapons. It was finally replaced in 1991.

Another photo, this one taken by Kusakabe, in the Nagasaki University collection. According to Nagasaki University, it was completed in 1889 and consecrated in 1891.

Wow, never seen this Great Buddha. Interesting style of his head quite thin.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kōtoku-in

Nowadays:

the photograph must have been made before November 1874. A member of the austro-hungarian marines circumsailing of the world 1874-76 (corvette Erzherzog Friedrich) acquired exactly this print in November or Dezember 1874 when the expedition had reached Japan.