tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post511015987863136925..comments2024-03-28T17:57:35.964-07:00Comments on Ryukyu Life: Buddhist Statue of Shinran Shonin in NYC: Give It Back !RyukyuMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06274885659789720372noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-73609985907321366152012-11-16T14:17:25.104-08:002012-11-16T14:17:25.104-08:00Brian,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. The ...Brian,<br />Thanks for taking the time to comment. The link doesn't work so, I posted for you. Normally, I consider putting links here as spam. You may not have noticed.<br /><br />Anyway, here you are. Not sure what point you may have been trying to make, here's all I have to say:<br /><br />Places I've been and things I've seen, lead me to believe that statue is in the wrong place. Amen.RyukyuMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06274885659789720372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-12097693538022892082012-11-16T11:48:46.013-08:002012-11-16T11:48:46.013-08:00"...
In Manhattan, the one location that has ..."...<br />In Manhattan, the one location that has memorialized its atomic connection had nothing to do with making or witnessing the bomb, but rather with managing to survive its fury.<br /><br />The spot is on Riverside Drive between 105th and 106th Streets. There, in a residential neighborhood, in front of the New York Buddhist Church, is a tall statue of a Japanese Buddhist monk, Shinran Shonin, who lived in the 12th and 13th centuries. In peasant hat and sandals, holding a wooden staff, the saint peers down on the sidewalk.<br /><br />The statue survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, standing a little more than a mile from ground zero. It was brought to New York in 1955. The plaque calls the statue “a testimonial to the atomic bomb devastation and a symbol of lasting hope for world peace.”<br /><br />The statue stands a few blocks from Columbia University, where much of the bomb program began.<br /><br />“I wonder how many New Yorkers know about it,” Dr. Norris said of the statue, “and know the history.”<br />..."<br /><br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/science/30manh.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1Brian Foleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01352568890985717257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-75273129708847649702011-02-22T15:54:28.131-08:002011-02-22T15:54:28.131-08:00transientandpermanent,
Thank you for providing the...transientandpermanent,<br />Thank you for providing these interesting links. I have read them both. Some people would still think it'd be a nice gesture to return the Statue of Shinran Shonin to the ground it came from.<br /><br />PeaceRyukyuMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06274885659789720372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-39107028031065600172011-02-22T09:54:49.280-08:002011-02-22T09:54:49.280-08:00The statue was donated by devout Japanese Shinran ...The statue was donated by devout Japanese Shinran followers and the shipping was paid for by a Japanese businessman. It was sent in 1955, years after the American occupation was over and the Americans had nothing to do with it. 80% of the people killed in the Hiroshima blast where followers of Shinran.<br /><br />You can read more about the statue at these links:<br /><br />http://dannyfisher.org/2008/04/29/the-shinran-shonin-statue-at-the-new-york-buddhist-church/<br /><br />http://www.americanbuddhiststudycenter.org/aboutus.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-7805757956374222572011-02-21T18:03:29.034-08:002011-02-21T18:03:29.034-08:00Ryan,
Walking the ground at Nagasaki and Hiroshima...Ryan,<br />Walking the ground at Nagasaki and Hiroshima does more than bring tears to eyes.<br />Now, someone going by the handle "transientandpermanent" tells me, "The statue was sent by Shinran devotees in Japan to be placed in America as a gesture of post-war healing and reconciliation." <br /><br />But, it's not etched in stone, if you know what I mean.<br /><br />It wouldn't surprise me if lots of folks up in the Hiroshima area where that statue was "donated" from considered it a National Treasure, or, Religious Artifact and would be pleased to have it back where it belongs.RyukyuMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06274885659789720372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-20292161569738331982011-02-21T14:24:09.170-08:002011-02-21T14:24:09.170-08:00We should start a petition to get the statue back ...We should start a petition to get the statue back to it's rightful place. I know this isn't the place for this Mike but whenever I watch anything about Hiroshima or Nagasaki it brings tears to my eyes. I just can't get my head around how they could justify dropping those bombs on innocent women and children.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08682357133636381359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-12203239061215563842011-02-21T02:38:30.137-08:002011-02-21T02:38:30.137-08:00transientandpermanent,
That sounds reasonable to m...transientandpermanent,<br />That sounds reasonable to me except for a religious figure being needed to remind folks of the horrors of war and wondering how difficult it was for an occupying force to obtain the statue in the name of peace.<br />It would still be a nice gesture for an American corporation to build a Shinran Shonin Statue and return that special item to the people of Hiroshima, I think.RyukyuMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06274885659789720372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-1297517451188071822011-02-20T14:28:01.603-08:002011-02-20T14:28:01.603-08:00The statue in NYC is in front of a Japanese Buddhi...The statue in NYC is in front of a Japanese Buddhist temple in Shinran's lineage. Hiroshima is a major area for Shinran's type of Buddhism (it is by far the majority denomination in the Hiroshima region). The statue was sent by Shinran devotees in Japan to be placed in America as a gesture of post-war healing and reconciliation. So, there's no need for it to go back to Japan, it is there intentionally and serving three good purposes: inspiring Shinran's followers abroad, conjoining two former enemy nations, and serving as a reminder of the horror of war.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-65006476077976048192011-02-19T22:44:46.361-08:002011-02-19T22:44:46.361-08:00Jay,
Yup, I suppose there may have been a few indu...Jay,<br />Yup, I suppose there may have been a few industrious liars along the way who went to all the extra effort and engraved stuff. But, bet there's a lot more who are willing to spin their tales online !RyukyuMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06274885659789720372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-6763400214344267202011-02-19T22:38:40.623-08:002011-02-19T22:38:40.623-08:00Randy,
Thank you. I figured, at least the inscript...Randy,<br />Thank you. I figured, at least the inscription saved me some typing. Glad it's been confirmed, people can actually read it !RyukyuMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06274885659789720372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-31095153817763153932011-02-19T22:32:11.670-08:002011-02-19T22:32:11.670-08:00Bethany,
The times I haven't bothered to shoot...Bethany,<br />The times I haven't bothered to shoot some of these items, I always end-up wishing I did. Sometimes, the weather or bcrowds make it worth a second or third visit, though.RyukyuMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06274885659789720372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-27342678080938567942011-02-19T22:27:42.840-08:002011-02-19T22:27:42.840-08:00Cathy,
Thanks. It would be interesting hearing how...Cathy,<br />Thanks. It would be interesting hearing how the folks running that Temple justify keeping that statue.<br />Beats me but, I'm not much of a politician, activist or even religious.<br />Neanderthal, suits me just fine but, this got me scratching my head!RyukyuMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06274885659789720372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-54104342677515288072011-02-19T21:55:18.460-08:002011-02-19T21:55:18.460-08:00I liked the line >> it'd be easier, if y...I liked the line >> it'd be easier, if you were a liar, to put stuff online, than to etch it on to a stone.Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14869020981585812766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-52692195983156014672011-02-19T21:35:11.337-08:002011-02-19T21:35:11.337-08:00Nice! Really enjoyed the picture and write up. I a...Nice! Really enjoyed the picture and write up. I also like to take photos of statue plaques and other tourist information for the same reasons.Randyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11898039085604082945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-6868053661442336832011-02-19T21:31:49.176-08:002011-02-19T21:31:49.176-08:00Nice! Really enjoyed the picture and write up. I a...Nice! Really enjoyed the picture and write up. I also always photograph statue information for the same reasons.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578704576795209295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3603293883718966986.post-18468621635384921292011-02-19T19:13:14.246-08:002011-02-19T19:13:14.246-08:00That is very interesting, isn't it? Good quest...That is very interesting, isn't it? Good question to ask the Buddhist temple in NYC! Good job looking into this. It's a very striking statue made even more so when you know the story.Cathy Sweeneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04935816184174446949noreply@blogger.com