Mokujiki-no-Sato Bishokan Museum
Mokujiki Shonin was born in Marubatake in 1718.
At the age of 22, he entered a Buddhist monastery and vowed to follow mokujiki-kai (one of the Buddhist commandments) at 45 in Hitachi Province.
He followed the commandment during his whole life and went on a pilgrimage all over Japan. Until he died at 93, he carved more than 1,000 Buddha statues.
These Buddha statues are known as “Bisho-butsu (Smiling Buddha)” for their unique smiling face.
