This statue is a replica of the original statue in Nara made during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). The original statue is said to be made from a Japanese cypress tree. Goko means 2.16 billion years and Shiyui means contemplation. The large amount of hair represents how much the Amitabha’s hair grew during the long years thinking in order to save us. It is said that hair grew while the Amida Buddha sat and thought about us