Shaka-dō is the “former main hall”. This building housed the Budōmyō’ō statue for 100 years from 1856.

What surprised the people of Edo during its completion was the numerous sculptures on the perimeter of the building. Take a lap around the sloped area after climbing the stairs. There, you will see two sculptures, “Nijū-shikō” and “Gohyaku-rakan,” which collectively took 10 years to produce.

The “kō” in Nijū-shikō stands for filial piety, or the virtue of respecting one’s elders. Look at the statue of the child covering the mother’s back. This is signifying that while the mother is sleeping, the child should offer his or her own body as protection from mosquitoes. Although, it may seem extreme in terms of respect for one’s parents, each one of these carvings has a story behind it regard filial piety.

Gohyaku-rakan is the carving of 500 buddhas. It is said that among these sculptures, you can find a buddha’s face that bears resemblance to one of your own family members’. Among the visitors, there are people who come to look for the face of a lost relative. If you can find a lost family member’s face among these 500 statues, it signifies that they have made a safe trip to heaven.