also: かなぼとけ
metal Buddha statue; bronze Buddha
Refers to a statue of Buddha made of metal, typically bronze. Often contrasted with wooden or stone statues.
An old metal Buddha statue is enshrined in this temple.
cold-hearted person; cold-blooded person
Figurative use comparing a person's unfeeling nature to a cold metal statue. Somewhat literary or old-fashioned.
He is as merciless as a metal Buddha.
inflexible people; heartless people
Standard kanji spelling; the reading かなぶつ is more common than かなぼとけ.
Alternate reading; less common but still encountered.
Compound of 金 (kana, 'metal') and 仏 (butsu/hotoke, 'Buddha'). The figurative sense derives from the cold, unfeeling nature of a metal statue.