Did you know that Zojoji Temple stands as an impressive complex? It houses the tombs of six Tokugawa shoguns. Zojoji is a tranquil place to visit amidst Tokyo’s modern buildings. Its main gate Sangedatsumon is an imposing representation of traditional Buddhist architecture. It is the only temple structure that survived the bombings of World War II.
Zojoji was founded in 1393. It was relocated to its present site in 1598. This happened after Ieyasu Tokugawa entered Tokyo in 1590. After the start of the Edo Period Zojoji became the family temple of the Tokugawa family.
The Treasure Gallery opened in 2015. It displays works by the famous Buddhist scroll painter Kano Kazunobu. It also features a model of the Taitoku-in Mausoleum. The Tokugawa shoguns are buried there.
Next to the Treasure Gallery is a small garden. It has rows of stone statues called jizo. These jizo represent unborn children lost in childbirth miscarriage or abortion. Parents decorate the statues with clothing and small toys. This eases the journey into the afterlife.
The main wooden gate is peculiar for its vermilion color. It measures 21 meters in height 28.7 meters in width and 17.6 meters in depth. It was built in 1622. Today the gate is one of the most important remains of the Edo Period architecture. Its name Sangedatsumon means a gate for getting delivered from three earthly states of mind. These are greed anger and stupidity.
The bell has a diameter of 1.76 meters. It is 3.33 meters high and weighs 15 tons. This bell is one of the Big Three Bells of the Edo Period. It is tolled twice a day six times each. This happens in the early morning and in the evening. Its name is the Daibonsho or Big Bell. It serves to purify 108 earthly passions which lead people astray. Legend says it gives profound equanimity through an exhortation repeated six times a day.
When you walk around in Zojoji Temple you might notice statues representing babies. They are the Ojizo-san or Ojizo-sama. These little statues are characterized by bright red clothing and handmade crochet caps. They might seem like cute ornaments. Tradition says they protect the spirit of unborn children and little ones that passed away.
Zojoji was an administrative center. It governed the religious studies and activities of the Jodo sect. The temple’s brilliant red gate is known as Sangedatsumon. Six Tokugawa warlords who ruled the nation are interred here.
Once a huge complex covering 826000 square meters Zojoji included 48 smaller attached temples. Now the temple is a fraction of its former size. Many of the buildings are reconstructions. The main entrance gate is original. It has stood since 1622 through fires earthquakes and wars.
You can visit the mausoleum of the Tokugawa clan. It is adorned with fierce dragons at the back of the site. It contains the tombs of six Tokugawa leaders who became shogun. You can head down to the basement of the temple hall. Visit the small museum to see how the Tokugawa mausoleum used to look. It shows the ornate buildings before they were damaged in World War II.
Zojoji Temple stands not only as a religious site but also as a testament to history. It connects us to the powerful Tokugawa shogunate. Take a moment to appreciate the enduring legacy of Zojoji. It is a place where tradition and modernity meet beneath the gaze of the Tokyo Tower.