Kyoto, Sanju-Sancen-do Temple (Japan)
As usual, transliterating Japanese or Chinese characters (or Thai, or anything non-Roman, for that matter) can lead to confusion. Google tells us there’s a different spelling now, and adds even more: “Sanjusangendo (三十三間堂, Sanjūsangendō) is the popular name for Rengeo-in, a temple famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The temple was founded in 1164 and rebuilt a century later after the original structure had been destroyed in a fire. Measuring 120 meters, the temple hall is Japan’s longest wooden structure. The name Sanjusangendo (literally “33 intervals”) derives from the number of intervals between the building’s support columns …” Not really too much information, and we were struck by the starkness of this unused old postcard. Grade: 1