Daibutsu (the great Buddha)

This image was cast in 1292; it was housed in a shrine that was washed away in a tidal wave in 1495; since then it has been in the open. Very, very impressive and peaceful to look at.

I kept hearing a song out of Judas Macabbeas in my head (I guess because I'd been playing it during Hanukkah)--

Never bow we down oh never bow we down no never bow we down/
to the rude stock/
or sculptured stone/
but ever worship Israel's God/
ever obedient to his awful nod...