We woke up early and headed to Zojoji temple which is in the Shiba neighborhood of Minato, Tokyo. The history of this temple is fascinating and you'll hear about it in this blog.
Zojoji Temple, Minato, Tokyo
Zojoji Temple was founded in 1393 as a special meditation school for Jodo Buddhism in the Kanto region. Zojoji was relocated to the present site in 1598. When it became the family temple of the Tokugawa family the grand cathedral was also built. Zojoji was also a center of religious studies and activities of Jodo Buddhism. In those days its precincts overall coverage was 826000 square meters. It contained 48 smaller temples and about 150 grammar schools.
Back entrance to Zojoji.
We found a pot of good luck so Henkka is taking some luck with him.
We found ourselves in the middle of a wedding seremony.
The monks threw these on top of the soon to be married for good luck.
Sangedatsumon which is the main gate of Zojoji is 21 meters high, almost 29 meters wide and almost 18 meters deep. It was built in 1622 and today it is the only architectural reminder of the early days of the Edo Period when the original Zojoji was constructed. Its name Sangedatsumon means a gate (mon) getting delivered (gedatsu) from three (san) states of mind: greed, anger and stupidity.
Daibonsho was built in 1673. This giant bells diameter is 1,76 meters, it is 3,33 meters high and it weighs 15 tons. The bell is tolled twice a day to purify people from 108 eartly passions.
Daibonsho bell at Zojoji.
This in the entrance to Mausoleum of Tokugawa Shoguns. Inside are the tombs of six Tokugawa Shoguns, Imperial Princess Kazunomiya and wives and children of the Shoguns.
Next to the Mausoleum are rows of stone statues of children that represent unborn children including miscarried, aborted, and stillborn children. Parents can choose a statue in the garden and decorate it with small clothing and toys. Usually the statues are accompanied by a small gift for Jizō, the guardian of unborn children, to ensure that they are brought to the afterlife.
Rows of stone children at Zojoji Temple.
2500 years old Buddhism is the teachings of India's Buddha. It came to Japan from India around A.D. 538. In this process teachings of Jodo (pure land) Buddhism emerged and evolved in Japan. Jodo Buddhism was founded by Honen Shonin in 1175. The purpose was to widen Buddhism to bring equal salvation to all people.
The view from the main stairs of Zojoji Temple.
Countlessmilesandsmsiles recommends to visit Zojoji temple if you are interested in history and buddhism. It's a nice way to spend an hour or two at the temple area because there are lot of thing to see. We rate this place 4/5.
Memi & Henkka
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