Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

The Sanmon, the main gate to the Zojo-ji Temple, was built in 1605. It is constructed in a Chinese Tang Dynasty style and is a rare example of early Edo-period architecture. All the other buildings on the grounds were destroyed during 1945 air raids.

Zojo-ji was founded in 1393 as an orthodox and fundamental nembutsu seminary for Jodo shu in the Kanto region. 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 government. After the start of the Edo Period when the Tokugawa shogunate ruled Japan, Zojo-ji became the family temple of the Tokugawa family and an unparalleled grand cathedral was built. Zojo-ji also served as an administrative centre to govern the religious studies and activities of Jodo shu. In those days, its precincts covered an area of 826,000sq meters which also contained 48 smaller attached temples and about 150 grammar schools. 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, Zojo-ji was profoundly affected by political and social circumstances. Today, however, its cathedral and other structures have been rebuilt, and Zojo-ji 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.

The front gate strikes passers-bys as majestic and magnificent. This wooden gate, measuring 21 meters in height, 28.7 meters in width and 17.6 meters in depth, built in 1622, remains today, the only architectural reminder of the early days of the Edo Period when the original Zojo-ji was constructed on a prodigious scale. The gate has been designated by the State as important cultural property. Its name - Sangedatsumon - means a gate (mon) for getting delivered (gedatsu) from three (san) earthly states of mand - greed, anger and stupidity.

The vermilion-lacquered gate is a two-story structure. Enshrined in the upper story are image of Shakyamuni Buddha, Samantabdhra and Manjusri bodhisattvas, and the sixteen arhat disciples of the Buddha, which were created by Buddhist image sculptors of Kyoto when Zojo-ji was built.

This bell was completed in 1673 after seven repeated casting of the works, and is renowned as one of the Big Three Bells of the Edo Period. Boasting a diameter of 1.76 meters, a height of 3.33meters and a weight of 15tons. The bell is tolled twice a day - six times each in the early morning and in the evening. It not only chimes the hours, but also serves to purify one hundred and eight earthly passions (bonno), which lead people astray, through an exhortation, repeated six times a day, to profound equanimity.

Daiden (Hondo), which forms the core of the Buddhist structures ob Zojo-ji, was rebuilt in 1974 by combining the traditional Buddhist temple architecture with a cream of modern architecture. Enshrined in this hall is a large main image (honzon) of Amida Buddha (made during the Muromachi.

Period), with an image of Great Teacher Shan-tao (who perfected China's Jodo (Pure Land) Buddhism) at its right and an image of Honen Shonin (who founded Japan's Jodo Shu) at its left. These images are deeply revered by many people who worship at Zojo-ji. Daiden has been reconstructed according to an innovative architectural design that enables it to serve not only as a fundamental nembutsu seminary of the headquarters of Jodo shu, but also as a site for all manner of religious rites and memorial services.

Enshrined in this building is the Black Image of Amida Buddha, which was deeply worshiped by Ieyasu Tokugawa. This wonder-working image is said to have repeatedly saved Ieyasu from dangers and enabled him to win battles. Since the Edo Period, it has been widely revered as a Buddhist image which brings victory and wards off evils.

Koshoden has been completed as a lecture hall and seminary for "cleansing soul and fostering the vigour to live" with the advent of the 21st century. The coffered ceiling of its large hall features pictures of flowering plants, donated by 120 pious Japanese artists and fitted into coffers. This gorgeous display of ceiling pictures is bound to be appreciated as an artistic heritage for the 21st century, helping to fill the hearts of people gathering in the hall with unfathomable piety and bliss.

After Ieyasu Tokugawa started to rule the Kanto (east Japan) region, he accorded cordial protection to Zojoji as the family temple of the Tokugawa family. Parallel to the expansion of the Edo Castle, a large-scale construction project was also commenced for Zojoji. After that, Zojoji came to be widely known as one of Japan's principal Buddhist temples. Located in its precincts are the tombs of six Tokugawa Shoguns, Imperial Princess Kazunomiya (wife of Shogun Iemochi), and wives and children of shoguns. Nowadays, these tombs serve as a reminder of the prosperous Edo Period.

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