During the late 19th-century reconstruction of Kyoto's Higashi Hongan-ji Temple, workers faced the monumental task of hauling massive timber beams without ropes strong enough for the strain. In an extraordinary act of devotion, thousands of female followers across Japan cut and donated their own hair to weave thick, ultra-durable cables capable of moving the heavy pillars. Today, a preserved coil of this historic hair rope rests under glass on the temple grounds, offering visitors a striking glimpse into the immense sacrifice and ingenuity that built the grand hall.
- Temples
- Buddhism
- Oddities
- Historical Artifacts
- Architecture
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