The Great Buddha , Daibutsu (Vairocana)

The name Vairocana in Sanskrit means Universal Light, signifying that the infinite mercy of the Buddha is extended equally to all beings without discrimination. The position of the left hand expresses Vairocana's desire to put an end to all suffering. The right hand extends his welcome to those in the world who suffert. This image is 16 meters tall. The image and its pedastal were cast in the Nara Period (8th cent.), but they have been repaired many times over the ages. Very little remains of the original work. The hands, for example, were made in the 16th century, and the head and the wooden screen behind it are from the 17th century.