Thirty-three statues of Kannon Bosatsu (Goddess of Mercy) like this are spread out around a silent woods (Photo: Takako Sakamoto)

33 Kannon Statues at Taicho-ji

Make a pilgramage to achieve 48,000 days' happiness!

Takako Sakamoto   - 1分鐘閱讀時間

The principal Buddhist image of Taicho-ji Temple in Fukui is the 'Kannon Bosatsu (Goddess of Mercy) with twelve hands', which was carved by the temple's founder, Taicho Daishi himself. There are also thirty-three Kannon statues in the temple grounds. It is said that if you visit all thirty-three of them here, you will be happy for 48,000 days. I did the math and that equals more than 131 years, which means my happiness for the rest of my life will be guaranteed. OK, deal! I made a pilgrimage to all thirty-three of them. But so far I don't feel any change in the happiness department of my life. I wonder what went wrong?!

Takako Sakamoto

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...