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The Sanjusangendo could have been one of the holiest temples in Kyoto Prefecture, because it houses around a thousand Kannons or the Goddess of Mercy. Established in 1164 and measuring around 120 meters, the main hall is said to be the longest existing wooden structure in Japan. Being this long, the hall is said to have around 33 intervals in between the support columns, hence the name, Sanjusangendo, is actually the literal translation of "33 intervals."

Aside from the thousands of Kannons, there is also another main statue in the main hall. It is the huge wooden 1000-armed Kannon or Senju Kannon, situated in the center of around 500 human-sized 1000-armed Kannons.

Photo by Tamamura Kozaburo. Circa 1979.

Tags: sanjuusangendo, kyoto prefecture, kannon, goddess of mercy, japan, senju kannon, 1000 armed kannon