Kuhonbutsu Jōshin-ji

Kuhonbutsu Jōshin-ji
Kuhonbutsu Jōshin-ji
九品仏浄真寺
Religion
Affiliation	Buddhism
Sect	Jodo-shu
Location
Location	7 Chome-41-3 Okusawa, Setagaya, Tokyo 158-0083
Country	Japan
Website
	https://kuhombutsu.jp/

Kuhonbutsu (九品仏), officially designated as Joshin-ji (浄真寺, Joshin-ji), is a Buddhist temple situated in Setagaya, Tokyo. Affiliated with the Jōdo sect,^[1] it is dedicated to the Buddha. The temple derives its name from the presence of nine statues, each depicting a different manifestation of Amida Buddha, within its premises.^[2]

History

The temple was constructed on the former site of Okusawa Castle, which was previously owned by the Kira clan.^[3] Following the destruction of the castle during the Sengoku period, shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna bestowed the plot upon the Jodo sect. In 1678, a priest called Kaseki built the temple.^[2]

Architecture

The temple grounds also house a number of old trees, including a ginkgo declared Cultural Heritage .^[4] Additionally, the temple layout is aligned with the principles of the Pure Land tradition. Derived from the 36 votes of Amida Buddha, the grounds occupy 3,600 tsubo (12,000 m²), the columns of the Three Buddha Halls are 36 in total , and the distance between the Jōbon-dō and the Main Hall is 36 ken (76.2 m).^[1]

Halls

Main Hall

Main Hall (March 2023)

The Main Hall o Ryūgo-den (龍護殿) is a 20-metre-tall and 20-metre-wide construction.^[5] The hip roof is covered with copper plates. Affixed to the lintel is a plate inscribed with the official name of the hall, "Ryūgo-den." Inside, there are a number of ornamental figures, the most notable of which is a 2.81-metre-tall statue of Gautama Buddha.^[2] The original statue, created by Kaseki, was destroyed in a fire in 1748, after which a replacement was installed in 1760.^[1]

Three Buddha Halls

Gebon (March 2023)
Chūbon (March 2023)
Jōbon (March 2023)

There are three halls facing the Main Hall: the Gebon-dō (下品堂) on the left, Jōbon-dō (上品堂) in the centre, and the Chūbon-dō (中品堂) on the right. Each building houses three golden statues of Amida Buddha, also sculpted by Kaseki with the help of his disciple Kaoku. These statues symbolise the nine levels into which the individuals who are reborn in the Pure Land are classified according to their purity at the time of their death.^[2] The Gebon-dō contains the statues representing the lower level. The Chūbon-dō houses the statues of the intermediate level. Ultimately, the Jōbon-dō contains the statues of the upper level.^[1] Each statue is depicted in a different posture. The more mundane poses are reserved for the statues of the lower levels, and the more sacred ones for the statues of the upper levels.^[6]

Founder's Hall

Founder's Hall

The statue of Kaseki is situated within this hall. The tradition says that this statue provides protection against misfortune and ensures safe childbirth for pregnant women.^[1]

Kannon Hall

Kannon Hall

This hall is dedicated to the worship of Kannon. A total of 33 statues, representing the 33 manifestations of Kannon, are situated around the building.^[7]

Gates

Sōmon

Puerta exterior del templo

The Sōmon is a simple wooden structure. On the right pillar, it bears the official name of the temple, while on the lintel, there is a plaque reading "Hanjujo" (般舟場).^[1] This plaque makes reference to the Pratyutpanna-samadhi sutra (Japanese: 般舟三昧経), which contains the earliest known references to Amida Buddha and his Pure Land.^[8]

Main Gate

The Main Gate or 仁王門 (niō-mon) is the entrance to the main worship area of the temple. It is a wooden structure built in 1793 and stands on a stone platform. It is six metres in height and has an irimoya roof with copper plates installed in 1964 that replaces a former thatched roof.^[7] Furthermore, the gate's body is divided into two floors. The upper floor contains one statue of Amida and 25 statues of Bodhisattvas. The lower section, at the front, contains two statues of Niō, the protective deities of Buddhism.^[1]

Bell Tower

Bell Tower

This bell tower can be found on the left of the Main Gate. The structure was erected in 1708.^[7] The wooden structure is adorned with intricate carvings and elaborate sculptures. Additionally, the bell is adorned with arabesque-like motifs, as well as depictions of Buddha and celestial beings.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Saito, Yukio (1997). Edo meisho zue. Yūhōdō bunko. pp. 127–133. ISBN 4-480-08338-3.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Graham, Patricia J. (2007). Faith and Power in Japanese Buddhist Art, 1600–2005. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 39–40. ISBN 9780824862466.
^ "東京23区の中に遺された貴重な城郭遺構、世田谷・九品仏が城域の奥沢城を歩く東京23区に古城を訪ねる：第3回「奥沢城（世田谷区）」". Japan Business Press [ja] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-07-16.
^ "【ぷらっとＴＯＫＹＯ】「自由が丘」トットちゃんゆかりの地に新施設". Kochi Shimbun [ja] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-07-15.
^ 新編武蔵風土記稿 [Shinpen musashifū dokikō] (in Japanese). Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. 1996. pp. 32 (62). ISBN 9784639013730.
^ Yang, Peng; Kubo, Mitsunori; Terauchi, Fumio; Tauchi, Takatoshi (2021). "Morphological Analysis and Impression Evaluation for the Handprints of the Kuhon-Butsu Statues in Joshin Temple". Journal of the Science of Design. 5 (1): 1.77–1.86. doi:10.11247/jsd.5.1_1_77.
^ ^a ^b ^c Muto, Matsuri (2017). 世田谷区における社寺建築の保存状況ならびに関係宮大工の業績に関する研究 [Study on preservation of Shrines and Temples in Setagaya] (in Japanese). National Diet Library. pp. 62–89.
^ Harrison, Paul; McRae, John (1998). The Pratyutpanna Samādhi Sūtra and the Śūraṅgama Samādhi Sūtra. BDK America. pp. 2–3, 19. ISBN 1886439060.

[:1-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Saito, Yukio (1997). Edo meisho zue. Yūhōdō bunko. pp. 127–133. ISBN 4-480-08338-3.

[:2-2] Graham, Patricia J. (2007). Faith and Power in Japanese Buddhist Art, 1600–2005. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 39–40. ISBN 9780824862466.

[3] "東京23区の中に遺された貴重な城郭遺構、世田谷・九品仏が城域の奥沢城を歩く東京23区に古城を訪ねる：第3回「奥沢城（世田谷区）」". Japan Business Press [ja] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-07-16.

[4] "【ぷらっとＴＯＫＹＯ】「自由が丘」トットちゃんゆかりの地に新施設". Kochi Shimbun [ja] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-07-15.

[5] 新編武蔵風土記稿 [Shinpen musashifū dokikō] (in Japanese). Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. 1996. pp. 32 (62). ISBN 9784639013730.

[6] Yang, Peng; Kubo, Mitsunori; Terauchi, Fumio; Tauchi, Takatoshi (2021). "Morphological Analysis and Impression Evaluation for the Handprints of the Kuhon-Butsu Statues in Joshin Temple". Journal of the Science of Design. 5 (1): 1.77–1.86. doi:10.11247/jsd.5.1_1_77.

[:3-7] Muto, Matsuri (2017). 世田谷区における社寺建築の保存状況ならびに関係宮大工の業績に関する研究 [Study on preservation of Shrines and Temples in Setagaya] (in Japanese). National Diet Library. pp. 62–89.

[8] Harrison, Paul; McRae, John (1998). The Pratyutpanna Samādhi Sūtra and the Śūraṅgama Samādhi Sūtra. BDK America. pp. 2–3, 19. ISBN 1886439060.

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