Ikegami Honmonji Temple in Ota City

Ikegami Honmonji Temple was founded between 1274 and 1284 by Nichiren Shonin in Ikegami neighborhood of Ota - ku, Tokyo.The exact time when the temple was founded is unknown. However, it is believed that the temple was completed shortly before Nichiren Shonin’s death on October 1284. The temple was destroyed during an air raid in March and April 1945. However, it was immediately reconstructed soon after the Second World War. The temple marks the location where Nichiren Shonin died and cremated. Ikegami Munenaka, the landlord of Ikegami and a devout follower of Nicheren Shonin, ordered the construction Ikegami Honmonji Temple.

The entrance to Honmonji Temple in Ikegami, Ota City, Tokyo.

Photo album of Ikegami Honmonji Temple: https://goo.gl/photos/WPzwkNW6rJAS4PmS6

For location, see: https://goo.gl/maps/xuN73nF5ToK2 

Nichiren Shonin is the highest priest of a Buddhist Nichiren sect. “Shonin” means “the supreme priest”. Nichiren was born on the 16th of February 1222 as Zen Nichi Maro (“Splendid Sun” or ”Virtuous Sun Boy”).  Since he had a strong devotion and practice to Lotus Sutra (one of Buddhism’s form of teachings), he changed his name to Nichiren. “Nichi” means “sun” and “Ren” means “Lotus”. 

Stairs leading to the temple

One of interesting facts about Nichiren Shonin is that in 1253 he predicted the Mongolian invasion to Japan in 1274.  Remember the famous word “Kamikaze” (The Divine Wind)? This word was born during the Mongolian invasion to Japan when a typhoon wiped out the Mongolian fleet. 

Ikegami Honmonji Temple is a huge temple complex with many important structures. Unfortunately, we only managed to visit the Dai - do (Founder’s Hall) and the Goju no to (The Five - Story Pagoda). Visitors must rinse their hands and lips with water from a water reservoir near the gate of the temple.

Ikegami Honmonji Temple was founded between 1274 and 1284 by Nichiren Shonin in Ikegami neighborhood of Ota - ku, Tokyo.The exact time when the temple was founded is unknown. However, it is believed that the temple was completed shortly before Nichiren Shonin’s death on October 1284. The temple was destroyed during an air raid in March and April 1945. However, it was immediately reconstructed soon after the Second World War. The temple marks the location where Nichiren Shonin died and cremated. Ikegami Munenaka, the landlord of Ikegami and a devout follower of Nicheren Shonin, ordered the construction Ikegami Honmonji Temple.

Nichiren Shonin is the highest priest of a Buddhist Nichiren sect. “Shonin” means “the supreme priest”. Nichiren was born on the 16th of February 1222 as Zen Nichi Maro (“Splendid Sun” or ”Virtuous Sun Boy”).  Since he had a strong devotion and practice to Lotus Sutra (one of Buddhism’s form of teachings), he changed his name to Nichiren. “Nichi” means “sun” and “Ren” means “Lotus”. 

One of interesting facts about Nichiren Shonin is that in 1253 he predicted the Mongolian invasion to Japan in 1274.  Remember the famous word “Kamikaze” (The Divine Wind)? This word was born during the Mongolian invasion to Japan when a typhoon wiped out the Mongolian fleet. 

Ikegami Honmonji Temple is a huge temple complex with many important structures. Unfortunately, we only managed to visit the Dai - do (Founder’s Hall) and the Goju no to (The Five - Story Pagoda). Visitors must rinse their hands and lips with water from a water reservoir near the gate of the temple.

There are two big, red, scary - looking demonic figures at each side of the big entrance gate to the temple. These two figures are the guardian deities (angels?). One of the deities has an opened mouth while the other’s closed. The open - mouth deity is supposedly saying  “Aaa”, which symbolizes the beginning of life. The closed - mouth deity, on the other hand, is humming “Hmm”, which means the end of life. Sometimes the guardian figures are in the form of mythical dogs (lions?). 

The Dai - Do (the Founder’s Hall) enshrines the statue of Nichiren Shonin. The chanting that must be included when praying in this hall is “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō ", which means “homage to the Lotus Sutra”. 

Goju No To is the five - story pagoda that was built in 1608. It stands 29.4 meters high and has an octagonal beam with a diameter of 41 cm running from the second story to the top to balance the structure especially from earthquake. It is believed that beam allows the pagoda to withstand a magnitude of 7 Richter scale earthquake. Each story of the pagoda represents each of the five elements of life (earth, water, fire, wind, and air). 

Every first weekend of spring (i.e. The first Saturday of April, today), there is a ceremony that opens the base of the tower. Then, from the 11th to the 13th of October (Fall season), there would be a festival to commemorate Nichiren Shonen’s death. So, mark your calendar and don’t forget to visit here. The temple is a tranquil and beautiful place to be. Make sure you explore all the way back to the temple’s complex. 

There are two big, red, scary - looking demonic figures at each side of the big entrance gate to the temple. These two figures are the guardian deities (angels?). One of the deities has an opened mouth while the other’s closed. The open - mouth deity is supposedly saying  “Aaa”, which symbolizes the beginning of life. The closed - mouth deity, on the other hand, is humming “Hmm”, which means the end of life. Sometimes the guardian figures are in the form of mythical dogs (lions?). 

The Dai - Do (the Founder’s Hall) enshrines the statue of Nichiren Shonin. The chanting that must be included when praying in this hall is “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō ", which means “homage to the Lotus Sutra”. 

Goju No To is the five - story pagoda that was built in 1608. It stands 29.4 meters high and has an octagonal beam with a diameter of 41 cm running from the second story to the top to balance the structure especially from earthquake. It is believed that beam allows the pagoda to withstand a magnitude of 7 Richter scale earthquake. Each story of the pagoda represents each of the five elements of life (earth, water, fire, wind, and air). 

Every first weekend of spring (i.e. The first Saturday of April, today), there is a ceremony that opens the base of the tower. Then, from the 11th to the 13th of October (Fall season), there would be a festival to commemorate Nichiren Shonen’s death. So, mark your calendar and don’t forget to visit here. The temple is a tranquil and beautiful place to be. Make sure you explore all the way back to the temple’s complex.

More information: https://tokyoactivity.com/