zojo-ji temple in TOKYO

Zojoji was founded in 1393 as an orthodox and fundamental nembutsu seminary for Jodo shu in the Kanto (east Japan) region.

Zojoji was relocated to the present site in 1598 after Ieyasu Tokugawa, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, entered Edo (present-day Tokyo) in 1590 to establish his provincial governmnet. After the start of the Edo Period when the Tokugawa shogunate ruled Japan, Zojoji became the family temple of the Tokugawa family and an unparalleled grand cathedral was built. Zojoji also served as an administrative center to govern the religious studies and activities of Jodo shu. In those days, its precincts covered an area of 826,000 square meters which also contained 48 smaller attached temples and about 150 grammar schools. Moreover, as many as 3,000 priests and novices always resided here as students.

Nevertheless, as the Tokugawa shogunate came to an end and the Meiji Era started, an anti-Buddhist movement got under way. The cathedral, temples and the mausoleum of the Tokugawa family were burned down by air raids during World War II. Thus, Zojoji was profoundly affected by political and social circumsrances. Today, however, its cathedral and other structures have been rebuilt, and Zojoji continues to serve as the main temple of Jodo shu and the central nembutsu seminary for priests and novices. Furthermore, it has endeared itself to the general public as both a grand Buddhist temple typical of the metropolis Tokyo and a hub of religious and cultural activities.

"Precincts Where History from Time Immemorial Is Epitomized."

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[nishtabre]

I loved it soooooooo much today! I got to enter and listen to the calming voices of the monks! I enjoyed watching them make mochi! Thank you Japan!

[melvinbrand]

Namu Amida Butsu. I have not been healthy enough to travel to Japan. It is the one great trip I'm dreaming of being able to take.

[Tragicprophecy]

Thank you very much for the information, Zojoji temple is one of my favourite places in Tokyo, I'm really looking forward to visiting again when I visit Japan this summer