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Stolen Buddha statue back after 36 yrs

OSAKA, Japan - Chief priest Keijo Sogahara looks at a recovered Buddha statue at Kogen temple in the village of Asuka, Nara Prefecture, on Sept. 24, 2010. The statue, estimated to have been made between the late 7th century and the first half of the 8th century, was discovered in the catalogue of an auction company in Kyoto 36 years after it was stolen.

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One of Japan's oldest Buddha statues found in Otsu

OTSU, Japan - The Nara National Museum says Aug. 3 it has found inside a principal statue at Ishiyama Temple in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, four small Buddha statues overlaid with gold. They were made between the seventh and eighth centuries, covering Japan's Asuka, Hakuho and Nara periods. One of the four (far R) is judged to have been made in the Asuka era and is believed to be one of the oldest Buddha statues made in Japan, together with those at Asuka Temple and Horyuji Temple.

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Horyuji Yumedono (Dream Hall)

Horyuji is a monastery temple located in the town of Ikaruga, some distance north of the Asuka region, Nara Prefecture. Originally it was a modest temple said to have been built in the early 7th century by order of Prince Shotoku, the prince regent, whose palace, Ikaruga no Miya, was being erected nearby. In time Horyuji was enlarged into a monastery famous for Buddhist studies, especially the doctrines of the Hosso Sect. Yumedono (Dream Hall) was buit on the site of Shotoku's chapel. According to legend, the prince was instructed by a golden being who appeared to him in a dream.

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One of Japan's oldest Buddha statues found in Otsu

OTSU, Japan - The Nara National Museum says Aug. 3 it has found inside a principal statue at Ishiyama Temple in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, four small Buddha statues overlaid with gold. They were made between the seventh and eighth centuries, covering Japan's Asuka, Hakuho and Nara periods. One of the four (far R) is judged to have been made in the Asuka era and is believed to be one of the oldest Buddha statues made in Japan, together with those at Asuka Temple and Horyuji Temple. (Kyodo)

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Prince Shotoku Taishi - son of 31st Emperor Yomei-tenno

Prince Shotoku (574622) - also known as Prince Umayado or Prince Kamitsumiya - a semi-legendary regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan who served under Empress Suiko. The son of Emperor Yomei and his consort, Princess Anahobe no Hashihito, Shotoku commissioned the Shitenno-ji (temple) in Settsu Province (present-day Osaka) after his military victory against the powerful Mononobe clan. The Prince was an ardent Buddhist and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Sangyo Gisho or "Annotated Commentaries on the Three Sutras". Date: 7th century

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Autumn tints of Takinogawa, Oji

This bridge appears many times in photographs of Takinogawa taken during the Meiji Period. The former Takinogawa Village was located west of Mt. Asuka. The groves of maple trees where people enjoyed the autumn colours centered around Kongoji, which was also called the autumn colours temple (present-day Takinogawa 3-chome, Kita Ward). People enjoyed the cherry blossoms at Mt. Asuka in spring and the colourful leaves of Takinogawa in autumn. Mid-Meiji Period.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number85‐13‐0]

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Stolen Buddha statue back after 36 yrs

OSAKA, Japan - Chief priest Keijo Sogahara looks at a recovered Buddha statue at Kogen temple in the village of Asuka, Nara Prefecture, on Sept. 24, 2010. The statue, estimated to have been made between the late 7th century and the first half of the 8th century, was discovered in the catalogue of an auction company in Kyoto 36 years after it was stolen. (Kyodo)