Gokuraku-ji (Kamakura)
The Gokuraku Temple ( Gokuraku-ji , Japanese 極 楽 寺 ) is a Buddhist temple founded in 1259 in Kamakura , Kanagawa . It belongs to the Shingon Ritsu sect and is the only one of its kind in Kamakura.
history
founding
The temple was founded by priest Ninshō (1217-1303). He began his studies at the age of 13 with the priest Eison in Saidai-ji in Nara and came to Kamakura in 1261, where he laid a path through the mountains of Kamakura, the Gokurakuji zaka. At the same time, Hōjō Shigetoki established a residence in this area. The newly created path made the work easier and led to a friendship between the two.
Shigetoki supported Ninshō financially in founding the temple. After Shigetoki's death, his sons Nagatoki (1230-1264) and Naritoki (1241-1287) supported the construction of the temple, which was completed in 1267.
The temple rose in prestige quickly. Together with the Saidai-ji in Nara, it was the headquarters of Shingon-Ritsu Buddhism in eastern Japan. The temple held the status of a Chokuganjo, a temple that prays on behalf of the government for peace and stability in the country.
Nursing
Ninshō worked in the temple until his death in 1303, both on Buddhist teachings and as a builder and healer. A hospital was built on the site, which, according to tradition, treated more than 60,000 patients within 20 years, mostly people; who suffered from leprosy . As in Europe, they were regarded as lepers with whom contact was avoided. Until 1996, lepers in Japan were forcibly admitted to a sanatorium for life. After his death, his successors continue the work.
A large mortar with pestle for reducing medicinal herbs near the main hall still bears witness to the temple's past.
Destruction and shrinking
In 1333, Nitta Yoshisada (1302-1338) attacked Kamakura. Large parts of the temple were destroyed in the attack, not least because the area around the temple became a battlefield. The facility was rebuilt, albeit not completely (there was no support from the Hōjō clan). It should be noted that despite the change of balance of power, the temple retained the status of Chokuganjo.
Great fires in 1425 and 1572 and an earthquake in 1433 again caused great damage. The temple was rebuilt each time, but the area and the number of buildings shrank. From the 16th century only four buildings are reported.
Recent past and present
Today's temple complex was built after the Kanto earthquake in 1923 and has a size of around 500 square meters. Public access is severely restricted and photography is not permitted on the site.
Construction of the temple complex
According to old drawings, the area was about 800 m × 900 m. There were seven main buildings and 49 secondary temples. The main buildings and their layout were built in the Shichido Garan style. The hospital was also on the premises. This structure was not preserved because the temple was destroyed several times in its history. Despite the reduced size, there are many valuable statues on the site.
Sanmon
The thatched Sanmon forms the entrance to the site . It was built in 1863. A sign on the gate (in Japanese) says that only believers (pilgrims) are allowed to enter. A paved path about 100 m long leads from the Sanmon to the main hall. There are cherry trees on either side.
Main hall
In the main hall is a 98 cm high wooden statue of the light king Fudō Myōō from the 12th century. It stood in a temple in Shimane Prefecture until 1926 . Fudō-Myōō holds a sword and rope. His threatening posture and facial expressions should destroy all who endanger the Buddha's teachings.
The statue is flanked on the left by a statue of the Medicine Buddha Yakushi Nyorai (Bhaisajyaguru) and on the right by a 56 cm high statue of Monju Bosatsu (Manjushri) . The latter is known as the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. It is believed that these companion figures were made in the 13th century - probably in 1273. They show influences of the Chinese Sung style.
In the main hall there are also statues of various priests who directed the temple. In contrast to statues of priests of Zen, the statues do not sit on a chair, but on the floor. The priests depicted are:
- Ninshō ; the wooden figure is 86.5 cm tall and comes from the Muromachi period (1336–1573).
- Iceon ; the figure of Ninsho's master and patriarch of the Shingon Ritsu sect is 84.5 cm high. The wooden statue was carved in 1306. It was destroyed up to the head in the fire of 1425.
- Ice in ; he was the second priest. The wooden figure is 73.5 cm tall and was also made in the Muromachi period.
- Esho ; the 60.6 cm statue was carved in 1663 when Esho was 70 years old himself.
Tenborine-den
On the way from the Sanmon to the main hall you pass the Tenborin den, which is on the right-hand side. The building, erected in 1968, is a mini-museum, in which old statues and accessories for various Buddhist rituals are exhibited.
You can see, among other things, a 91 cm wooden statue of Shaka Nyorai from the 13th century and statues that represent the 10 great students of Buddhism (comparable to the apostles in Christianity): Daikasho, Anaritsu, Furuna, Kasen'nen, Ubari, Ragora , Sharihotsu, Mokukenren, Ananda and Shubodai. These statues are between 83 and 87 cm high and were partially carved before 1269.
Daishi-do
On the left side of the way to the main hall is the side temple Dashi-dō, which is dedicated to the priest Kobe (774-835), also called Kūkai . He was the founder of the Shingon sect, from which the Shingon-Ritsu sect is derived.
There is also a statue of Nyoirin Kannon on display. The statue is number 22 in the list of Bandō Sanjūsankasho. According to tradition, the statue was owned by Tokiwa, the mother of Yoshitsune Minamoto (1159–1189) and served as her patron saint.
You can also see a painted statue of Shingon founder Kobe as well as various utensils for rituals of Shingon Buddhism from the Kamakura period.
The most important treasure of Gokuraku-ji, however, is a 158 cm statue of Shaka Nyorai from 1268. It was given to priest Ninshō in 1297. The statue is carved in the Seiryoji style and is unique in its presentation. The robe goes down to the neck and the hair looks like braided ropes. The statue can only be visited from April 7th to 9th. (April 8th is Shaka Nyorais' birthday.)
Gorinto and Hokyo-into
About 300 m northwest of the temple, where the Inamuragasaki elementary school is located, is a clearing on which Gorintō and Hoyko-into stand. The site once belonged to the temple grounds. It is now open to the public on April 8th only.
The Gorintō , a Buddhist stone pagoda made of five elements, is 355 cm high, making it the highest in the Kantō region. This one got the nickname Ninshō-tō in honor of priest Ninshō.
The 310 cm high Hokyo-into is also a stone pagoda. This one is said to be the tombstone of Hōjō Shigetoki. Only in Shingon Buddhism are such large memorials built. The hokyo-into is carved from tuff, a hard stone that does not exist in the Kamakura area. It is believed that the blank came from the Izu Peninsula.
Place of pilgrimage
The Gokuroku-ji belongs to the Bandō Sanjūsankasho , a pilgrimage dedicated to the goddess Kannon. The pilgrimage consists of 33 temples. The Gokuroku-ji is the 22nd temple in the list.
Trivia
- The temple became famous for a kabuki play called Shiranami Gonin Otoko , one of the most famous plays. In one scene, Benten-Kozo commits Seppuko on the temple roof.
- Next to the tenborin there is a rare ume tree. During the flowering period, it bears flowers with one and two petals on the same branch.
- Gokuraku can be translated as paradise , so the Gekuraku-ji becomes a temple of paradise .
Location and accessibility
The Gokuraku-ji is located in the southeast of Kamakura about 500 m west of the Hase-dera and the Daibutsu of Kamakura . The Sanmon is right next to the Gokurakuji train station on the Enoshima-Dentetsu line , which connects Kamakura with Enoshima and Fujisawa .
The address is 3-6-7 Gokuraku-ji, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture .
swell
- http://www.mustlovejapan.com/subject/gokurakuji_temple/
- http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~qm9t-kndu/gokuraku.htm
Remarks
- ↑ It should be noted that the temple was founded in Fukuzawa in 1259, 18 years earlier, and moved to Kamakura on the orders of Hōjō Shigetoki. Nevertheless, Ninshō is considered to be the founder of the temple.
- ↑ The museum is usually locked. If you want to visit it, you should inquire about the current opening times beforehand. Possibly. you have to ask directly on the temple grounds.
Coordinates: 35 ° 18 ′ 37 ″ N , 139 ° 31 ′ 42 ″ E