| Zōjō-ji | |
|---|---|
三縁山増上寺 | |
 Hondo (main hall) and theTokyo Tower in 2024 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Jōdo-shū |
| Deity | Amida Buddha |
| Location | |
| Location | 4 Chome-7-35Shibakoen,Minato,Tokyo 105-0011 |
| Country | Japan |
 | |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Yūyo Shōsō |
| Completed | 1393 |
| Website | |
| zojoji.or | |
Zōjō-ji (増上寺) is aJōdo-shūBuddhist temple inMinato, Tokyo, Japan. It is the main temple of the Jōdo-shū ("Pure Land") Chinzei sect of Buddhism in theKantō region.[1][2] Its mountain name isSan'en-zan (三縁山).
Zōjō-ji is notable for its relationship with theTokugawa clan, the rulers of Japan during theEdo period, with six of theTokugawa shōguns being buried in theTaitoku-in Mausoleum in the temple grounds. Also, the temple'sSangedatsumon (main gate) is the oldest wooden building in Tokyo, dating from 1622. The original buildings, temples, mausoleums and the cathedral were destroyed by fire, natural disasters or air raids during World War II.[3]
It is located in theShiba neighborhood ofMinato. TheShiba Park is built around the temple, with theTokyo Tower standing beside it. In 2015 a Treasure Gallery was opened on the underground level of theDaiden (great hall), and it currently houses paintings ofKanō Kazunobu and a model of theTaitoku-in Mausoleum.
The temple remains active "as the main temple of Jodo shu and the central nembutsu seminary for priests and novices."[4]
Shūei (宗叡, 809-884), a disciple ofKūkai, founded a temple named Kōmyō-ji (光明寺) at Kaizuka (貝塚, present-dayKōjimachi inChiyoda, Tokyo);[5] it is said to have been the forerunner of Zōjō-ji. In 1393, during theMuromachi period, the temple, under its abbot Yūyo Shōsō, converted from Shingon to theJōdo school. Shōsō is thus regarded as the founder of Zōjō-ji.[6]
Together withKan'ei-ji, during theEdo period Zōjō-ji was theTokugawa'sfamily temple.[7]Tokugawa Ieyasu had the temple moved, first toHibiya, then in 1590, at the time of expansion ofEdo Castle, to its present location.[8]
With the fall of theTokugawa shogunate, the grounds took on the character of a public park. The temple was badly damaged inWorld War II, but still retains the air of a major temple.[9]
At its peak the temple grounds had more than 120 buildings, but following the decline of Buddhism during theMeiji period (1868-1912), most of them burned during theBombing of Tokyo inWorld War II. Reconstruction began after the war, with theDaiden (great hall) being rebuilt in 1974.[9]
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The 21 meter (69 foot), two-storied main gate orsangedatsumon (三解脱門) was constructed in 1622,[9] and it is therefore the oldest wooden building in Tokyo.[10] The temple's only original structure to survive theSecond World War,[11] it has been designated anImportant Cultural Property.
"San" (三) means "three", and "Gedatsu" (解脱) means "Moksha". If someone passes through the gate, he can free himself from three passions (貪Ton; "greed", 瞋Shin; "hatred", 癡Chi; "foolishness").[9]
On the upper floor are enshrined an image ofGautama Buddha flanked by two attendants, and statues of theSixteen Arhats.[9]
Six of the 15Tokugawa shōguns are buried at Zōjō-ji.[12] TheTaitoku-in Mausoleum ofHidetada (and the monument to his wifeSūgen'in),Ienobu, andIetsugu had been designatedNational Treasures of Japan, but were burned in World War II. At present, parts of two of their graves have the distinction of beingImportant Cultural Properties of Japan. Additional graves are located in the cemetery behind the Great Hall. Parts of the former grounds of the temple are now occupied by a park and two hotels.Tokugawa Iemochi also Iemochi's wife,Kazu-no-Miya Chikako also buried in Zozo-ji.
In one particular garden at the cemetery, rows of stone statues of children represent unborn children, includingmiscarried,aborted, andstillborn 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. Occasionally stones are piled by the statue; this is meant to ease the journey to the afterlife.
There is no admission fee for visitors to enter the temple complex.[13] For the Treasure Gallery museum the access fee is (as of 2024[update], 700yen).[14]
The entrance is at a 10-minute walk fromHamamatsucho Station on theJR Yamanote andKeihin-Tōhoku Lines, a 6-minute walk fromDaimon Station on theToei Asakusa andToei Oedo Lines, a 3-minute walk fromOnarimon andShibakoen Stations on theToei Mita Line, and about 500 meters from the Shibakoen exit of theShuto Expressway.[9]
While not immediately obvious, the temple grounds are somewhat wheelchair-accessible if entering from the side street instead of the main gate.[15]
Monthly events[9]
Zōjō-ji was depicted multiple times in the art work of theShin hanga artistKawase Hasui during the 1920s and 30s. It was also shown in severalukiyo-e prints byHiroshige, in particular twice in his famousOne Hundred Famous Views of Edo series from 1856–1858.
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35°39′27″N139°44′54″E / 35.657479°N 139.748376°E /35.657479; 139.748376
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