Sensoji Temple: Tokyo's Ancient Heart of Faith and History
Sensoji Temple is Tokyo's oldest temple and a central place of Buddhist worship in the city.
Founding Legend and Early History
The temple's history begins in 628 when two brothers, fishermen Hinokuma Hamanari and Hinokuma Takenari, were fishing in the Sumida River and discovered a small gilded statue of Kannon, the Bodhisattva of compassion.
Although they repeatedly returned the statue to the river, it kept reappearing in their net, so the brothers gave it to the village headman, Hajino Nakamoto, who converted his house into a place to venerate the image.
In 645, a monk named Shōkai repaired and rebuilt a temple to enshrine the statue, laying the foundations for the Sensoji we know today.
Name and Legend
The temple's official name is Kinryū-zan Sensō-ji, which means "Sensoji on Mount Golden Dragon," tied to a legend that a golden dragon descended when the statue was found.
Destruction and Rebuilding
Over the centuries Sensoji was destroyed and rebuilt many times; it suffered heavy damage in World War II when bombing destroyed much of the complex.
After the war the temple was reconstructed and restored to its role as both a spiritual center and a cultural landmark.
Modern Significance
Today Sensoji stands in the historic Asakusa district and remains an important center of faith for Tokyo residents while also drawing millions of visitors annually as a top tourist attraction.
The temple complex preserves many elements of traditional Japanese architecture and cultural value, including the famous Kaminarimon gate, the Nakamise shopping street leading to the temple, the five-story pagoda, and the Hōzōmon treasure house.
