Sanjusangendo Temple

Points of View
(1)1,001 identical images
(2)Images with 42 hands and 11 faces
(3)28 kinds of image

This temple is one of the best-known sightseeing spots in Kyoto along with Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkakuji Temple, Ginkakuji Temple and Nijo Castle, and has easy access from Kyoto Station. The primary fascination of this temple is the more than 1,000 images it contains and their 120m-wide container. This extraordinary number of images is imbued with the prevailing thought at the time of the temple’s foundation, an era when the degree of devotion, the possibility of salvation and the effects of invocation were judged by the sheer force of numbers and quantity. The higher the number and the greater the quantity, the greater the amount of faith and help. This is why such a large number of images was created. Now, let’s take an in-depth look at them.

On entering, you will first be surprised by the great many images in the vast building. It is so vast that the opposite side of the interior can be seen only dimly. 1,001 identical images are arranged in order within the building. In front of these statues, 28 different kinds of image are arranged at a certain distance. Each of the 1,001 images has 42 arms and 11 faces. 1,001 images in one building, and 42 arms and 11 faces on just one image. The numbers are completely overwhelming.

Looking at the images, each one is found with 42 arms. Why so many? The answer is that just one kind of image tried to meet people’s wishes of all kinds. Each hand holds different things - one holds an arrow, some a mirror, some a sword and some a bell. An arrow is said to be an object for meeting true friends, a mirror for bringing out one’s talent, a sword for removing evil spirits and a bell for having a beautiful voice. All objects have their own meaning, and symbolize a range of abilities. To meet the wide-ranging wishes of people, the image needed to have many hands. It is rather like a multi-tool with many kinds of implement such as pliers, a can opener, a bottle opener, a hook remover, a screwdriver and a small knife.

Each image also has ten small faces in its head. There are merciful faces, angry faces and laughing faces among others. The merciful faces are to give happiness to people who are doing good deeds, and angry faces are to tell people off for doing bad things and to remove their suffering. The laughing face is to lead people into doing good deeds. Since different people have different wishes and characters, the image needed many hands and faces to meet everybody’s wishes and lead them to better things.

28 kinds of image are set in front of the 1,001 images at a certain distance. These images were originally Indian Hindu gods, and were adapted into Buddhism.