A Buddhist priest at the Zenkoji Temple, Nagano, Japan

---

Zenkoji belongs to both the Tendai and Jodo Shinshu schools of Buddhism, and is co-managed by 25 priests from the former School and 14 from the latter. It enshrines images of the Amida Buddha, the primary one of which is a hibutsu, a hidden Buddha, which is not normally shown to the public. This hibutsu is rumored to be the first Buddha statue to ever be brought ot Japan. There is also a passage under the temple where worshippers, in complete darkness, try to touch a key hanging on the wall in order to gain enlightenment. The key represents the Key to the Western Paradise of the Amida Buddha.

---

Size: 5030px × 3344px
Location: Nagano, Japan
Photo credit: © Matt Fagg / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: buddhist, nagano, priest, temple, zenkoji