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608:. 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 and was scheduled to end on December 31, 2007.
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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
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contains many interesting and historically significant buildings. The compound is arranged in a linear fashion, from the south to the north, so that worshipers 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
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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
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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.
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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
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343:. According to legend, the image, having caused dispute between two clans, was dumped into a canal. It was later rescued by Honda Yoshimitsu. The temple was thus named "Zenkō," according to the Chinese transliteration of Yoshimitsu's name.
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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
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The incense burner in front of Zenkō-ji. Visitors rub the incense smoke on their bodies for good health and fortune. A high priest or priestess holds early-morning blessing ceremonies here.
371:. The most recent display of "Maedachi Honzon" lasted from the beginning of April to the end of June, 2022. It was originally scheduled to be displayed in 2021 but was delayed due to the
402:(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" ("New Zenkō-ji").
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760:[Held in the spring of Reiwa 4! The opening ceremony of Zenkoji Temple is held once every seven years!] (in Japanese). Nagano Tourism and Convention Bureau.
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375:. The public showing period was also extended from the originally planned 57 days to 88 days with the goal of curbing the number of concurrent visitors.
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in the 16th century, when it served as one of
Kenshin's bases of operations. Currently, Zenkō-ji is one of the few remaining pilgrimage sites in Japan.
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is located on the far left from the Sanmon Gate. It is also an
Important Cultural Property. The building contains a repository of printed Buddhist
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Immediately on the left, from the southern entrance, this Jōdo Sect temple houses the nunnery and the residence of the high priestess.
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or the Main Image of Zenkō-ji, moved from India to Japan by way of the Korean peninsula, in the 6th century, during the reign of
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guardians, which protect the compound from enemies of
Buddhism. The two statues were reconstructed in 1918 after a fire.
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309:. The temple was built in the 7th century. The modern city of Nagano began as a town built around the temple.
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395:. Afterwards, it was moved several times before coming to rest at its present location in Nagano city.
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Historically, Zenkō-ji is perhaps most famous for its involvement in the battles between
409:(mid-15th to 17th century), when the Zenkō-ji became embroiled in the struggles between
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The name of the temple. This plaque, with calligraphy by an
Imperial prince, is on the
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and in solidarity with the
Tibetan Buddhists. The Zenkō-ji temple was then vandalized.
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Japanese temple sprayed with graffiti after withdrawing from
Olympic torch relay
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in Japan split into several different sects. It currently belongs to both the
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This is an excellent overview of Zenkō-ji, with many good photographs.
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was constructed in 1759, although the sūtra holder was made in 1694.
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Zenkoji and Its Icon: A Study in
Medieval Japanese Religious Art
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costs ¥500. The ticket can be re-used at different buildings.
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and the Zenkoji temple itself have since been moved back to
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A high priest dispensing blessings at the Zenkō-ji Hondō.
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Religious buildings and structures completed in the 640s
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The Sanmon Gate Reconstruction Schematic (Side View)
945:Important Cultural Properties of Nagano Prefecture
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547:. These areas are not open for public viewing.
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801:Japanese temple refuses to host torch ceremony
387:According to the explanation of Zenkō-ji, The
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639:holder, in order to gain enlightenment. The
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451:Zenkō-ji temple decided to pull out of the
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920:Buildings and structures in Nagano (city)
854:Faith and Power in Japanese Buddhist Art
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16:For other temples named Zenkō-ji, see
900:Buddhist temples in Nagano Prefecture
736:. Arms and Armour Press. p. 45.
588:The Sanmon Gate Reconstruction Poster
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884:Yamasa Institute Multimedia Studio
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528:is located on the left, after the
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879:Zenkō-ji Official Site (Japanese)
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453:2008 Summer Olympics torch relay
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838:. Princeton University Press.
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288:Temple of the Benevolent Light
149:Shown within Nagano Prefecture
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512:gate features two impressive
346:The main Buddhist image is a
271:The Gardens of Zenkō-ji, 2004
152:Show map of Nagano Prefecture
935:7th-century Buddhist temples
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323:Zenkō-ji was founded before
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925:National Treasures of Japan
852:Graham, Patricia J. (2007)
834:Donald F. McCallum (1994).
788:September 25, 2011, at the
606:Important Cultural Property
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858:University of Hawaii Press
758:"令和４年春開催！七年に一度の盛儀 善光寺御開帳！"
732:Turnbull, Stephen (1987).
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817:October 13, 2008, at the
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213:36.66167°N 138.18778°E
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504:The Niōmon Gate, 2007
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940:Temples of Amitābha
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463:Inside the compound
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866:978-0-8248-3126-4
845:978-0-691-03203-0
544:The Tale of Genji
373:COVID-19 pandemic
337:Mahayana Buddhism
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229:Architecture
73:Amida Buddha
856:(Honolulu:
350:, a hidden
335:schools of
216: /
204:138°11′16″E
56:Affiliation
894:Categories
743:0853688265
675:References
428:moved the
201:36°39′42″N
96:functional
669:Main Hall
536:Daikanjin
526:Main Hall
488:Daihongan
424:In 1598,
242:Completed
915:Jōdo-shū
815:Archived
786:Archived
762:Archived
565:Rokujizō
551:Rokujizō
481:compound
389:Hibutsu,
325:Buddhism
276:Zenkō-ji
106:Location
101:Location
61:Buddhist
50:Religion
26:Zenkō-ji
568:beings.
442:hibutsu
438:Shinano
430:hibutsu
405:In the
383:History
356:hibutsu
333:Jōdoshū
250:Website
237:unknown
234:Founder
120:Country
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842:
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633:sutras
602:Sanmon
572:Sanmon
532:gate.
530:Niōmon
510:Niōmon
496:Niōmon
473:sanmon
446:Nagano
440:. The
329:Tendai
303:Nagano
110:Nagano
93:Status
83:Tendai
641:Kyōzō
637:sūtra
629:Kyōzō
622:Kyōzō
612:Kyōzō
434:Kyoto
307:Japan
297:is a
123:Japan
68:Deity
862:ISBN
840:ISBN
770:2023
738:ISBN
627:The
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508:The
419:Kōfu
413:and
365:Kofu
331:and
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85:and
79:Rite
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32:善光寺
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