Sensoji Temple: The Heart Of Tokyo
The spiritual heart of Asakusa and for that matter Tokyo is the impressive Sensoji Buddhist Temple. Built sometime in the 7th century before Tokyo was even Edo to house the golden statue of Kannon the goddess of mercy which according to legend was fished out of the nearby Simudagawa by two local fisherman brothers. Despite their efforts to return Kannon to the river where she was found the statue kept finding its way back to them. Subsequently a temple was built to house the goddess. Sensoji is Tokyo’s only agreed tourist attraction and is visited daily by hundreds of tourists and worshipers from Japan and all over the world.
Arriving from Asakusa subway station Sensoji is entered through Kiminarimon “Thunder Gate”. A majestic structure that houses two protective deities: Fuijin the god of wind on the right and Raijin the god of thunder on the left. These ferocious gods oversee all who enter the temple and keep the grounds safe.
Once inside the gate you will come to Nakamisedori. This shopping street set within the actual temple precinct has a history all of its own. These stalls and their proprietors are a living part of a centuries old tradition of selling wares to the pilgrims visiting the temple.
In the late 17th century neighbors of the Sensoji who received and served visitors to the temple were rewarded by being given a special right to open shops to sell their wares along the approach to the temple.
This continued until 1885 when the Tokyo metropolitan government having taken control of the land belonging to Sensoji ordered all Nakamise merchants to leave and in the same year built western style brick shops leading to the beginning of modern Nakamese.
Today you can find everything from tourist trinkets such as folding fans to traditional Japanese clothing including kimonos and yukata to local snack foods. Stretching out for some 200 meters Nakamisedori is the perfect place to while away an hour and pick up a souvenir or two before entering the main ground of the temple.
The main ground itself buzzes with accents from all over the world and the click of cameras. Travelers and locals mix on the temple grounds uniting in their mission to pay their respects. 100 yen will buy you an omikuji fortune written on a small piece of paper. You place the money in an honor box and shake a small cylinder containing sticks with numbers written on them. Shake the cylinder until one of the sticks falls out and pull your fortune from a drawer with the corresponding number. If your fortune is bad tie the paper onto a nearby string so that the wind can disperse the bad luck.
Center stage in the temple forecourt is an incense burner. Here you will usually see a group of visitors fanning smoke from the burning incense over themselves. The incense is believed to have healing powers and so fanning the smoke over your ailment will help to heal it. If you suffer from headache fan some of the smoke over your head.
The main temple hall still houses the golden statue of Kannon a diminutive 6cm tall and is viewable by the public. Step forward to cast some coins in the offer box which sits in front of the alter take a step back place your hands together prey and then bow. This is the standard practice of preying at a Buddhist temple.
To the left of the forecourt and forming part of the temple is the 5 story 53 meter pagoda. A 1973 reconstruction of the original pagoda built on the same ground. This is the largest pagoda in Tokyo.
Destroyed by earthquakes and World War Two aerial bombings Sensoji Temple has been rebuilt and reconstructed time and time again. Testament to the significance it holds within the Buddhist community and the general public. A remembrance of centuries old values and traditions that carry on today within Tokyo’s chaotic lifestyle Sensoji is a steadying reminder that despite warring nations and new technology some things will always remain.
About the writer: Michael Braganza is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel Tourism related topics. He has authored many books on tour guide for Holidays in India and Rajasthan Holiday Tours. Now he is rendering his services to http://www.paradiseholidays.com/
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