Zojoji, Tokugawa Shogun’s family temple at Tokyo

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Japan, photography, temple, Tokyo, travel

Zojyoji temple is well known as the Tokugawa Shogunate graves that are tombs of six Tokugawa Shoguns, Imperial Princess Kazunomiya (wife of Shogun Iemochi), and wives and children of shoguns because it was a family temple of Tokugawa. Now many financiers and politicians hold a funeral at this temple.

Daiden (main hall) and Tokyo tower

In 2012, Jodo shu (Pure land sect) founder Honen’s 800 years anniversary of death

Zojoji templ’s main gate and Tokyo Tower

Second floor of the main gate. There are Shakyamuni Buddha, Samantabdhra and Manjusri bodhisattvas, and the sixteen arhat disciples of the Buddha. Normaly it is closed.

Sangedatsumon (main gate). 21 meters in height, 28.7 meters in width and 17.6 meters in depth, was built in 1622. It is only remained construction in this temple. The huge pine tree in front of the gate was planted by 18th president of USA Mr. Ulysses Simpson Grant in 1879.

Daibonsho (big bell) was built in 1673. The biggest bell in the East Japan, and one of the three big bell in Edo. (diameter of 1.76 meters, a height of 3.33 meters and a weight of 15 tons)

The gate of Mausoleum of Tokugawa Shogun. 2nd Shogun Ietada Tokugawa and his wife O-go, 6th Ienobu, 7th Ietsugu, 9th Ieshige, 12th Ieyoshi and 14th Iemochi were sleeping.

Nishimuki Kannon at Zojoji

Nishimuki Kannon has been said to be placed by Tokiyori Hojyo (1227-1263) in Kamakura period before Zojoji was relocated to the present site in 1598. The face became black.

Zojyoji temple’s Jizo statues

Zojoji’s vermilion seal