Ryozen Kannon

-I decided to split my last post in two. Sorry no Haiku....maybe later.

Near Kodaiji is the 80 foot high Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Kannon). I thought this was an interesting location to visit. Here is the link to Wikipedia on Ryozen Kannon. There isn't a terribly large amount of information but there is the link that explains what Avalokitesvara represents. Interestingly enough, Avalokitesvara is also known by the name, Guan Jin. Though they do are not necessarily the same entity. Maybe my contact at Japan Life and Religion will give us some insight.

Next to the Bodhisattva is a shrine for all the soldiers lost in WWII. What I found very interesting about it, was that it was not a shrine specifically for Japanese soldiers, but included Allied Personnel who died in territory controlled by the Japanese during WWII. I haven't seen any memorials in any other country for the war dead of the opposing side. I haven't even heard of anything remotely similar. I was impressed. Though it may be that I never looked.

I have attached a few pictures of the Bodhisavattva and memorial here, take a look.

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