Zenkō-ji

nihongo|Zenkō-ji|善光寺| is a Buddhist temple, located in Nagano, Japan. The temple was built in the 7th century. Nagano City, established in 1897, was originally a town built around the temple. Historically, the Zenkō-ji is perhaps most famous for its involvement in the battles between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen in the 16th century, when it served as one of Kenshin's bases of operations. Currently, the Zenkō-ji is one of the last few remaining pilgrimage sites in Japan.

Zenkō-ji was founded before Buddhism in Japan was split into several different sects, so it currently belongs to both the Tendai and Jodo Shu schools of Buddhism, and is co-managed by twenty-five priests from the former school, and fourteen from the latter. The temple enshrines images of the Amida Buddha. According to legend, the image, having caused dispute between two clans, was dumped into a canal. It was later rescued by Yoshimitsu Honda. The temple was thus named "Zenkō," according to the Chinese transliteration of Yoshimitsu's name.

The main Buddhist image is a "hibutsu (secret Buddha)", a hidden Buddha statue, not shown to the public. This "hibutsu" is rumored to be the first Buddha statue to ever be brought to Japan. The commandments of the temple require the absolute secrecy of the statue, prohibiting it to be shown to anyone, including the chief priest of the temple. However, a replica of the statue ("Zenritsu Honzon") has been created which can be shown publicly once every six or seven years, in a ceremony called Gokaichō. This event attracts many worshippers and visitors. The last time the statue was on display, in 2003, the Zenkō-ji cooperated with Motozenkō-ji and Zenkō-ji of Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture. The next display of the "hibutsu" will take place in 2009.

The temple contains a statue of Binzuru, a physician who was said to be Buddha's follower. Visitors to the temple touch the statue in order to cure their ailments. The temple also contains an inner prayer chamber, accessible to visitors. Currently, a daily morning ritual is held there by the high priest or priestess. From the inner chamber, a narrow staircase leads down to a completely dark corridor. In this corridor worshippers try to touch a metal key hanging on the wall, in order to gain enlightenment. The key represents the Key to the Western Paradise of the Amida Buddha.

History

The Zenkō-ji was originally built in the 6th century, during the reign of Emperor Kimmei. Afterwards, it was moved several times before coming to rest at its present location. This location, built on the site of the Motozen village, was originally called Motozenkoji.

At the end of the Kamakura period (1185-1333), many temples copied Zenkō-ji's famous Buddha statue, and many new temples were built around the country, calling themselves "Zenkō-ji" or "Shin-Zenkō-ji" (The New Zenkō-ji).

In the Sengoku period (mid-15th to 17th century), when the Zenkō-ji became embroiled in the struggles between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, the chief abbot was afraid it would be burnt to the ground. He built a new Zenkō-ji in what is now Kofu; it stands to this day.

In 1598, Toyotomi Hideyoshi moved the "hibutsu" to Kyoto, and then to Shinano. The "hibutsu" and the Zenkoji temple itself have since been moved back to Nagano.

Zenkō-ji temple decided to pull out of the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay‎, in relation with the 2008 Tibetan unrest and in solidarity with the Tibetan buddhists. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/18/2221113.htm?section=justin Japanese temple refuses to host torch ceremony] ] The Zenkō-ji temple was then vandalized. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/20/asia/AS-GEN-Japan-Temple.php Japanese temple sprayed with graffiti after withdrawing from Olympic torch relay] ]

Inside the Compound

The Zenkō-ji compound contains many interesting and historically significant buildings. The compound is arranged in a linear fashion, from the south to the north, so that worshippers and visitors would likely see the buildings in this order. Admission to most of the buildings at the compound is covered by a ticket which costs ¥500. The ticket can be re-used at different buildings.

Daihongan

Immediately on the left, from the southern entrance, this Jōdo Sect temple houses the nunnery and the residence of the high priestess.

Niōmon

The Niōmon gate features two impressive Deva guardians, which protect the compound from enemies of Buddhism. The two statues were reconstructed in 1918 after a fire.

Original Main Hall

The original Main Hall is located on the left, after the Niōmon gate.

Daikanjin

Located on the left, after the original Main Hall site, this Tendai Sect temple houses the residence of the chief priest. The temple's compound contains a garden and a treasure house, which contains the illustrated scroll of "The Tale of Genji". Unfortunately, these areas are not open for public viewing.

Rokujizō

The Rokujizō are located to the right of the Daikanjin. The Rokujizō are statues of the six Bodhisattvas, who gave up Buddhist enlightenment, in order to provide salvation to others. The Bodhisattvas are said to be able to commune with the six realms of hell, starvation, beasts, carnage, human beings and divine beings.

anmon

The Sanmon Gate is considered an Important Cultural Asset. It contains five wooden Buddhist statues (not available for public viewing), as well as a plaque with calligraphy by the Imperial prince, which is said to contain five hidden doves in the lettering. Reconstruction of the Sanmon Gate began on October 1, 2002; it will end on December 31, 2007.

Kyōzō

The Kyōzō is located on the far left from the Sanmon Gate. It is also an Important Cultural Asset. The building contains a repository of printed Buddhist sutras, and visitors get to rotate the octagonal sutra holder, in order to gain enlightenment. The Kyōzō was constructed in 1759, although the sutra holder was made in 1694.

Zenkō-ji Hondō

This is the Main Hall, located at the northern end of the compound. It is considered a National Treasure.

References

External links

* [http://www.zenkoji.jp/ Zenkō-ji Official Site (Japanese)]
* [http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/nagano/zenkouji.html Yamasa Institute Multimedia Studio] This is an excellent overview of Zenkō-ji, with many good photographs.
* [http://wgordon.web.wesleyan.edu/kamikaze/monuments/zenkoji/index.htm Zenkō-ji Kamikaze Special Attack Corps Monument]