Images

These jizo statues are located at the Chosenji Temple in Tokyo's Shibuya ward. The jizo are Bodhisattvas and thus the protectors of the weak, injured, travelers, women, and unborn children. A large number of jizo statues commemorate children...

The Hetsunomiya Shrine is one of several ancient shrines located on the island of Enoshima, which is just offshore from Kamakura, Japan. It was founded by Minamoto no Sanetomo in 1206 CE. Here, visitors pay their respect to the Buddhist goddess...

Much to the surprise of many, the Great Buddha of Kamakura is hollow. Visitors can venture inside and explore for themselves.

Completed in 1252 CE, the Great Buddha of Kamakura has survived countless earthquakes, including the devastating 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, and a tsunami in 1498 CE. Since that tsunami, the statue has remained outside and has never been...

The Great Buddha of Kamakura was completed in 1252 CE and was made of bronze. One can, however, still see traces of the gold leaf that was applied to the statue in medieval times.

One of the cultural icons of Japan, the Great Buddha of Kamakura was completed in 1252 CE and is made of bronze.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amitabha Buddha situated inside the Kotoku-in Temple in Kamakura, Japan. The statue is made of bronze and dates from 1252 CE. The statue is about 13 m (43.8 ft) tall, weighing...

In this picture, one sees a male Shinto priest accompanied by two female shrine stewards (or "miko" in Japanese) at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan as they prepare to oversee a wedding ceremony. While there are some female Shinto priests...

Enoshima is a Japanese island off the coast of Kanagawa Prefecture in the Pacific Ocean. It’s well-known for its colorful shrines with statues honoring the Buddhist goddess Benzaiten. In this picture, one sees the Hoanden (or the Octagonal...

A copper follis coin of Byzantine emperor Theophilos, r. 829-842 CE. (Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com)