ZŌJŌ-JI TEMPLE

Description

Essentials about the Zōjō-ji Temple in brief

The Zōjō-ji Temple is a Buddhist temple complex located in the Shiba-kōen district, just a few meters from Tokyo Tower. The temple grounds contain the tombs of some of the Shōguns of the Tokugawa dynasties. In addition, several of the structures on the temple grounds are among the oldest and most historically significant in Tokyo.

The history of the Zōjō-ji Temple

According to legend, the predecessor of the temple was founded as early as the 9th century. It is said to have been located in today’s Kōjimachi district. During the Edo period, the temple served as a family temple for the Shōgun dynasty of Tokugawa. Tokugawa Ieyasu first had the temple moved to Hibiya before having it moved again to its present location in 1598.

In the Edo period, it included 48 sub-temples and over 100 quarters for students. With the fall of the Tokugawa Shōgunate came difficult times for the Zōjō-ji Temple, which suffered from the state-imposed enhancement of Shintoism at the expense of Buddhism. In addition, the main hall burned down in 1873 and 1909. In 1873, the temple grounds were declared a park.

Much of the temple grounds were destroyed by air raids during World War II. However, the temple and its outbuildings were mostly rebuilt. The northern part with the destroyed Tokugawa burial grounds was sold after the war. In the process, the Tokugawa urns were moved; they are now located behind the main hall. The area to the east of the Zōjō-ji Temple is called “Shiba Daimon” (“Great Shiba Gate”) because of the gateway to the extensive grounds.

The buildings of the Zōjō-ji Temple

On the grounds of the Zōjō-ji Temple are a number of buildings, some of which are historically significant. These include the Sangedatsu Gate, built in 1622, which survived the bombings of World War II unscathed. The large two-story gate is one of Japan’s important cultural properties. Men are advised to pass through the gate. Indeed, when a man passes through the gate, he is said to find salvation from the three afflictions of greed, hatred and stupidity.

Although it is not entirely preserved in its original form, the unusually large Sutra Storehouse (kyōzō) is also one of Tokyo’s most historically important structures. It was built in 1605, making it the oldest surviving structure in the Japanese capital.

Likewise, the Great Bell (daibonsho) dates back to the 17th century. Completed in 1673, the bell is rung twice daily, six times each in the morning and evening. This is not only to announce the time, but also to spiritually purify the people.

The Great Hall (daiden) was rebuilt from concrete only in 1974 and has features of both classical Buddhist construction and modern features. Since 2015, the basement of the Great Hall has housed a treasury containing works by the famous Buddhist picture scroll painter Kano Kazunobu and a model of the Taitoku-in Mausoleum where the Tokugawa Shōguns are buried.

A special feature of the temple grounds is the small garden with several rows of stone statues called “jizo”. These special jizo symbolize the unborn children lost in birth, miscarriage or abortion. Many parents come to the garden to decorate the statues with clothes and small toys, which is supposed to facilitate the journey of the unborn children to the afterlife.