| Sensō-ji | |
|---|---|
 Sensō-ji Main Hall in 2023 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Buddhist |
| Sect | Shō-Kannon (independent school) |
| Deity | Shō Kannon Bosatsu (Āryāvalokiteśvara) |
| Location | |
| Location | 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taitō-ku, Tokyo |
| Country | Japan |
  Sensō-ji Show map of Tokyo Sensō-ji (Japan) Show map of Japan | |
| Coordinates | 35°42′53″N139°47′48.3″E / 35.71472°N 139.796750°E /35.71472; 139.796750 |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Kaishō |
| Completed | 645 |
| Website | |
| www | |
 | |
Sensō-ji (浅草寺[sẽ̞ꜜɰ̃so̞ːʑi]ⓘ,Sensō-ji; officiallyKinryū-zan Sensō-ji (金龍山浅草寺), also known asAsakusa Kannon (浅草観音)), is an ancientBuddhist temple inAsakusa, Tokyo, Japan. It is Tokyo's oldest-established temple, and one of its most significant. It is dedicated toKannon, thebodhisattva of compassion. Structures in the temple complex include the main hall, a five-storypagoda and large gates. It is the most widely visited religious site in the world with over 30 million visitors annually.[1][2] The temple is the 13th stop on theBandō Sanjūsankasho pilgrimage route.[3]
The temple was destroyed during a10 March 1945 firebombing air raid on Tokyo duringWorld War II. The main hall was rebuilt in the 1950s. Formerly associated with theTendaisect ofBuddhism, the temple became independent in 1950 after the war.[4] Leading to it is Nakamise-dōri street, containing many shops with traditional goods.[5] Adjacent to the east of Sensō-ji is theAsakusa Shrine of theShinto religion.[6]
The origins of Sensō-ji are uncertain. According to legends found in sources such as the "Sensō Engi", the temple began in theAsuka period when the brothers Hinokuma Hamanari and Takenari discovered a statue of Kannon while fishing in theSumida River in 628. The headman of their village, Haji no Nakatomo became a monk and converted his home into a temple.[7] In 645, a monk named Katsumi renovated the temple and, following a revelation in a dream, designated the statue as ahibutsu image. The statue is said to be made of gold and measuring approximately 5.5 centimeters in height, but its true details is unknown as it is never displayed to the public. If this account is true, it would make Sensō-ji the oldest-established temple inTokyo.[8] In 857, during the earlyHeian period and in 828,Ennin visited the temple and carved amaedachi Kannon statue (a statue for people to worship in place of the secret image). In 942, when Taira no Kinmasa was appointed Musashi-no-kami, he renovated theshichidō garan, and the Kaminarimon Gate and Niōmon Gate were constructed at this time.
However, the first documented reference to Sensō-ji is in theKamakura-period "Azuma Kagami." According to this chronicle, in 1181, carpenters were called in byMinamoto no Yoritomo from Asakusa to buildTsurugaoka Hachiman-gū inKamakura. Additionally, in 1192, monks from Sensō-ji participated in the 49th day memorial service forEmperor Goshirakawa held at Shōchōjū-in in Kamakura.Lady Nijō described her visit to Sensō-ji in herTowazugatari in 1290. In 1590,Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was inEdo, designated Senso-ji as an official place of prayer for the shogunate and granted the temple 500koku of land..[9] Sensō-ji's buildings had burned down many times before theEdo period, and after the start of theTokugawa shogunate, they were destroyed by fire twice, in 1631 and 1642. However, with the assistance of the third shogun,Tokugawa Iemitsu, the five-story pagoda was rebuilt in 1648 and the main hall in 1649. In 1685, shops that would become "Nakamise" were established on the main approach to the temple. The temple granted these businesses permission in exchange for charging local residents for cleaning the grounds. By the mid-Edo period, street performances and other events began to take place in the area at the back west of the temple grounds, commonly known as "Okuyama," and the temple grounds became a place of entertainment for the common people. Between 1843 and the following year, the three Edo theaters moved to Asakusa, further strengthening this trend.
Asakusa continued to thrive as a popular entertainment and entertainment district into theMeiji period. In 1873, much of the temple grounds were designated as Asakusa Park. In 1890, the 12-storyRyōunkaku (commonly known as the "Asakusa Twelve-Story Tower"), a commercial facility and observation tower, was completed. While much of the Asakusa district was destroyed in the1923 Great Kantō earthquake, a local construction master led the evacuees within the temple grounds in a bucket brigade firefighting operation, limiting damage to only a few buildings at Sensō-ji. However, the main hall (Kannon Hall), a formernational treasure, and the five-story pagoda were destroyed in the10 March 1945 firebombing air raid on Tokyo. The main hall was rebuilt in 1951–58[10] The temple now has a titanium tiled roof that maintains a historic image but is stronger and lighter.[11] TheKaminarimon gate was rebuilt in 1960, theHōzōmon gate in 1964, and the pagoda in 1973.[10] After World War II, Asakusa temporarily declined due to the diversification of entertainment options and the development of other entertainment districts in Tokyo. However, thanks to efforts by the local shopping district, it gradually regained its former vitality and has become a representative tourist destination in Tokyo as a town that retains its old-fashioned atmosphere, with annual events such as the Hagoita Market and Hozuki Market attracting large crowds.
Sensō-ji is the focus of Tokyo's largest and most popularfestival,Sanja Matsuri. This takes place over 3 to 4 days in late spring, and sees the surrounding streets closed to traffic from dawn until late evening.[citation needed]
Dominating the entrance to the temple is theKaminarimon or "Thunder Gate". This imposing Buddhist structure features a massive paper lantern dramatically painted in vivid red-and-black tones to suggest thunderclouds and lightning. Beyond the Kaminarimon is Nakamise-dori with its shops, followed by theHōzōmon or "Treasure House Gate", which provides the entrance to the inner complex. Within the precincts stand a stately five-storypagoda and the main hall, devoted to Kannon.[12]
Many tourists, both Japanese and from abroad, visit Sensō-ji every year. Catering to the visiting crowds, the surrounding area has many traditional shops and eating places that feature traditional dishes (hand-made noodles, sushi, tempura, etc.). Nakamise-Dori, the street leading from the Thunder Gate to the temple itself, is lined with small shops selling souvenirs ranging from fans,ukiyo-e (woodblock prints),kimono and other robes, Buddhist scrolls, traditional sweets, toGodzilla toys, t-shirts and mobile phone straps. These shops themselves are part of a living tradition of selling to pilgrims who walked to Sensō-ji.[citation needed]
Within the temple itself, and also at many places on its approach, there areo-mikuji stalls. For a suggested donation of 100 yen, visitors may consult the oracle and divine answers to their questions. Querents shake labelled sticks from enclosed metal containers and read the corresponding answers they retrieve from one of 100 possible drawers.[citation needed]
Within the temple is a quiet contemplative garden kept in the distinctiveJapanese style.[citation needed]
TheNishinomiya Inari shrine was located within the precincts of Sensō-ji and atorii identified the entry into the hallowed ground of the shrine. A bronze plaque on the gateway structure listed those who contributed to the construction of the torii, which was erected in 1727 (Kyōhō 12, 11th month).[13] After theMeiji government ordered theseparation of Shinto and Buddhism in 1868, the Inari shrine was moved to the grounds of theAsakusa Shrine, where it was destroyed in the 10 March 1945 firebombing.[14]
TheKaminarimon (雷門,"Thunder Gate") is the outer of two large entrance gates that ultimately lead to the Sensō-ji (the inner being the Hōzōmon) inAsakusa. The gate, with its lantern and statues, is popular with tourists. It stands 11.7 metres (38 ft) tall, 11.4 metres (37 ft) wide and covers an area of 69.3 square metres (746 sq ft).[15] The first gate was built in 941, but the current gate dates back to 1960, after the previous gate was destroyed in a fire in 1865.[citation needed]
The Kaminarimon was first built in 941 AD byTaira no Kinmasa, a military commander.[16] It was originally located near Komagata, but it was reconstructed in its current location in 1635. This is believed to be when the gods of wind and thunder were first placed on the gate.[16] The gate has been destroyed many times throughout the ages. Four years after its relocation, the Kaminarimon burned down, and in 1649 ADTokugawa Iemitsu rebuilt the gate along with several other of the major structures in the temple complex.[17] The gate burnt to the ground in 1757 AD and again in 1865 AD. The Kaminarimon's current structure was dedicated in December 1960 AD .[15] Ninety-five years after the last fire,Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Company (nowPanasonic), was asked to rebuild the gate. With monetary donations from Matsushita, it was rebuilt in 1960.[18]
Four statues are housed in the Kaminarimon, two in the front alcoves and two on the other side. On the front of the gate, the statues of theShinto godsFūjin andRaijin are displayed. Fūjin, the god of wind, is located on the east side of the gate, while Raijin, the god of thunder, is located on the west side. The original sculptures were severely damaged in the fire of 1865, with only the heads being saved, and the statues restored for the gate's 1960 reconstruction.[19]
Two additional statues stand on the reverse of the gate: theBuddhist god Tenryū on the east, and the goddess Kinryū on the west side. These were donated in 1978 to commemorate the 1350th anniversary of the first appearance of thebodhisattvaKannon (Avalokiteśvara) at Asakusa, which led to the founding of Sensō-ji. The statues were carved by then-106-year-old master sculptorHirakushi Denchū.[19]
A giant red lantern (chōchin) hangs under the center of the gate. It is 3.9 metres (13 ft) tall, 3.3 metres (11 ft) wide and weighs approximately 700 kilograms (1,500 lb). The current lantern, the fifth iteration, was built by Takahashi Chōchin K.K in 2013 and has the same metallic base on the bottom as the previous lantern. The base has a name plate that says "Matsushita Denki", an abbreviated form of Panasonic's old Japanese name, Matsushita Denki Sangyo Kabushiki Gaisha.[18] The front of the lantern displays the gate's name, Kaminarimon (雷門). Painted on the back is the gate's official name, Fūraijinmon (風雷神門).[20] During festivals such asSanja Matsuri, the lantern is collapsed to let tall objects pass through the gate.
The characters 金龍山 (Kinryū-zan) on the tablet above the lantern read from right to left and reference the Sensō-ji.
TheHōzōmon (宝蔵門,"Treasure-House Gate") is the inner of two large entrance gates that lead to the Sensō-ji. It is a two-story gate (nijūmon), and its second story houses many of the Sensō-ji's treasures. The first story houses two statues, three lanterns and two large sandals. It stands 22.7 metres (74 ft) tall, 21 metres (69 ft) wide, and 8 metres (26 ft) deep.[21]
The Hōzōmon was first built in 942 AD byTaira no Kinmasa.[22] Destroyed by fire in 1631, it was rebuilt byTokugawa Iemitsu in 1636. It stood for 300 more years until it was once again burned down during theTokyo air raids of 1945. In 1964, the present steel-reinforced concrete structure was built with a donation of¥150 million from Yonetarō Motoya.[21]
Since the gate was reconstructed using flame-resistant materials, the upper story of the Hōzōmon stores the Sensō-ji's treasuredsutras. These treasures include a copy of theLotus Sutra that is designated aJapanese National Treasure and theIssai-kyō, a complete collection ofBuddhist scriptures that has been designated anImportant Cultural Property.[23]
Unlike the Kaminarimon, which houses four different statues, the Hōzōmon houses two guardian statues that are located on either side of the gate's south face. These 5.45 metres (17.9 ft) tall statues representNiō, the guardian deities of theBuddha.[21][22] Because of these statues, the gate was originally called theNiōmon (仁王門,"Niō Gate") before it was renamed the Hōzōmon.[23]
The gate also features three large lanterns. The largest and most prominent lantern is a redchōchin that hangs under the center of the gate's opening. With a height of 3.75 metres (12.3 ft), a diameter of 2.7 metres (8.9 ft) and a weight of 400 kilograms (880 lb), the lantern displays the name of the town Kobunachō (小舟町).[21] The current iteration of the lantern dates back to 2003 when ¥2 billion was donated by the people of Kobunachō. Its donation commemorated the 10th-year-anniversary of the start of theEdo period.[21] On either side of thechōchin hangs five 2.75 metres (9.0 ft) tall coppertōrō weighing approximately 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) each. All three lanterns are completely removed during festivals such asSanja Matsuri.
On the Hōzōmon's east (back) face are thewaraji, two 4.5 metres (15 ft) long, 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) wide straw sandals that weigh 400 kilograms (880 lb) each.[24]
TheNakamise-dōri (仲見世通り) is a street that forms the approach to the temple. It is said to have been built in the early 12th century, when neighbors of Sensō-ji were granted permission to set up shops on the approach to the temple. However, in May 1885 the government of Tokyo ordered all shop owners to leave. That December the area was reconstructed in Western-style brick. During the1923 Great Kantō earthquake many of the shops were destroyed, then rebuilt in 1925 using concrete, only to be destroyed again during the bombings of World War II. The street is approximately 250 metres (820 ft) long and contains around 72 shops.[25]
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