The oldest Buddhist Statue in Japan

Zenkoji Temple 

 (Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture)   

【Hibutsu（秘仏）】is a Buddhist image that is kept hidden from public view for veneration and mysticalness. The hidden statue is usually placed in a small shrine kept the door closed. It is believed that even the door closed, the divine protection will reach people through the door.

The Buddhist image of the Zenkoji Temple is one of hidden statues (Hibutsu). Its main image is completely hidden from the people. No one has ever been allowed to see it even its temple master. It is said that the image is the oldest statue in Japan and the first statue brought to Japan.

Why the oldest statue is enshrined in Nagano? It is a remote area far from the center of the ancient capital of Japan, Nara or Kyoto. Legend has it that the statue was presented to Emperor Kinmei from Korea in 538. That event was recorded as the official introduction of Buddhism to Japan. The statue was enshrined at a courtier house who was a supporter of Buddhism. However, opposition forces that refused the acceptance of Buddhism attacked and set fire to the house and then threw the statue away into a river.

Some time later, a man from Nagano found something glittering in the water. It was the Buddhist image dumped into the river. He picked it up and brought it back to his hometown. That’s how the oldest statue was brought to Nagano.

The Buddhist image of the Zenkoji Temple is open to public once every seven years. However, the main image is completely hidden so the substitutional statue is displayed to the public instead. Although it is substitutional, it is also a historical statue made in 13th century.

During the event, a tall wooden pillar is set in front of the main hall. A rope is connected between the post and the statue sitting in the main hall. It is believed that you can gain merits of the Buddhist image though the rope. Visitors stand inline to touch the pillar with their hands for pray.

To enter the main hall, take off your shoes at the entrance. As you are walking into the hall on the tatami mats, you can find three altars at the back of the hall. The center one is the substitute statue that connected to the pillar outside with a rope. You can see the Buddhist image on your own eyes. The altar on the left is a small shrine that houses the main image of the temple, however, as it is completely hidden, no one can see inside the shrine. The altar on the right is for the man, Yoshimitsu Honda, who brought the statue to this place. 

When you visit the Zenkoji Temple, don’t forget to check the name plaque on the temple gate that depicts the temple name in Kanji Characters. If you look it at carefully, you can find animals hiding in the Kanji characters, five pigeons and one bull.