“What does a grave mean to you?” This question echoes through the serene garden of Myohoji Temple. Myohoji, a Buddhist temple in Hiroshima, invites us to contemplate life and death in an unexpected way.
Myohoji Temple, part of the Jodo Shinshu Honganji sect, boasts a history spanning over 400 years. Within its grounds lies Sanseien, a karesansui or dry landscape garden. This garden displays the beauty of maple trees throughout the seasons.
Here, at Myohoji, the traditional concept of a grave is reimagined. The chief priest of Myohoji believes that the grave is not for the deceased. It is for the living. Traditionally, death in Japan was considered impure. It was kept separate from daily life. This project embraces death as a part of life.
Instead of a remote, isolated location, Myohoji offers a charming garden. This easily accessible space welcomes the bereaved. A small wooden roof, called Nison-do, stands within the garden. This roof serves as a temporary resting place for ashes before they return to the earth. It provides a space for the deceased and a symbol for the living to remember them.
The small roof is made of wood and copper. The karesansui garden changes with time. Unlike traditional gravestones that remain unchanged, this garden blends into everyday space. It becomes a place where the living can perceive the flow of time. New spiritual connections can also be formed.
The Hiroshima flame acknowledges victims of nuclear testing. It promotes peace and the elimination of nuclear weapons. The fire was lit from the embers of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. For 57 years, the Yamamoto family tended it.
Rather than designating a specific place to handle death, this project treats the grave as an extension of everyday life. It imbues it with unprecedented public significance. The small roof becomes a symbol that the living can visit regularly. The garden becomes a space to experience the passage of time.
So as you wander through Myohoji Temple, consider this. This is a place not just for remembrance but for spiritual connection. It is a place to experience the ever-changing beauty of life and the gentle passage of time. This unique approach redefines the meaning of a final resting place. It transforms a garden into a communal space for healing and reflection at Myohoji.