Meiji Shrine Japan. Temples of Tokyo. History of the shrine

• Address: 1-1, Kamizono-chō Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku Tokyo 151-0053
• Telephone: +81 3379-5511
• Official site: www.meijijingu.or.jp
• Date of foundation: 1920
• Area of ​​the sanctuary: 708200 sq. m
• Operating mode: 06:20-16:00 (November-February), 05:00-18:00 (March-October)
• Entry fee: for free

Each cultural sector necessarily bears its imprint. Japanese temples are no exception; they are designed to preserve the country's religious traditions. In addition, temples are objects of sacred architecture, which the Japanese treat with special reverence. The largest and most popular sacred site in the city is the Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine. Townspeople turn here for the blessing of the gods in various life endeavors.

History of the shrine

Meiji Jingu Shrine, located in the Shibuya district, in the city's Eegi Park, is a kind of tomb for Emperor Mutsuhito and his wife, Empress Shoken. Upon ascending the throne, Mutsuhito took his middle name Meiji, which means “enlightened reign.” During the reign of the monarch, Japan retreated from self-isolation and became a country open to the outside world.

After the death of the imperial couple, Japan arose social movement for the creation of the temple. The shrine was built in 1920, but the temple was destroyed during World War II. In 1958, thanks to the help of many Japanese, the Meiji Shrine was completely restored. Currently, it is extremely popular among believers and is considered a religious symbol of Tokyo.

Architectural features of the building

The territory of the sanctuary, consisting of religious buildings, gardens and forests, covers an area of ​​more than 700 thousand square meters. m. The building itself is a typical example of Japanese temple architecture. The main hall, in which prayers are read for the imperial couple, was built in the Nagarezukuri style from cypress wood. The treasury museum is made of stone in the Azekurazukuri style. There are items here from the reign of Mutsuhito.

The Meiji Shrine building is surrounded by an amazing garden filled with many varieties of shrubs and trees. Almost every tree was planted by local Japanese as a sign of respect to the emperor. The external garden is used as a venue for sporting events. It is also home to the Meiji Memorial Hall, which houses more than 80 murals commemorating the life of the emperor.

How to get to Meiji Shrine?

Anyone can visit this unique attraction. Most convenient way To get to the shrine grounds, take the JR Yamanote subway line and get off at Harajuku Station. You can use ground. The closest stop in this case will be Ngubashi Station.

Meiji Shrine or, as it is also called, Meiji Jingu, is the tomb of the great Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. This is the largest Shinto shrine, which appeared in 1920 thanks to a public initiative. The Japanese were so grateful to their emperor that they decided to perpetuate his memory by creating the largest Shinto shrine, which is conveniently located in the very depths of Yoyogi City Park. The sanctuary was built in classical Japanese style. This is a kind of pinnacle of the architectural creation of ordinary people.

To see the majestic park, you need to drive to Kamizono-cho Yoyogi. This place is easy to find as the sanctuary occupies a fairly large area, which is surrounded by lush vegetation. On the territory of the park, which is laid out directly around the Japanese temple, almost all the trees that are found on the territory of the state grow, from inkgo to cypresses and sakura.

Features of a Japanese temple

The shrine is an example of the traditional Japanese Nagarezukuri style. To build a temple in large quantities Cypress was used, growing in the territory of Kiso, a mountain range located in the central part of the island of Honshu. Kiso is otherwise called the Japanese Alps. The Meiji building itself is surrounded by a picturesque garden, on the territory of which grows an incredible number of unique plants found in various forests and parks of the Country Rising Sun.

One thing worth noting interesting feature– in the park located around the emperor’s tomb, various sports competitions are often held. There is also an Art Gallery of the memorial, consisting of 80 frescoes that depict memorable events and significant dates of the imperial couple.

The Outer Garden, which houses the Meiji Memorial (Wedding) Hall, is a revered place, as it is here that weddings are held even today. wedding celebrations in the best traditions of the Shinto religion.

Numerous tourists visiting a temple in Japan can receive an “omikuji” - a small piece of paper with a fortune on it. English language. What is this prophecy? As a rule, these are several lines in poetic form, written by the emperor or his wife. By contacting a Shinto priest, every visitor to a Japanese shrine will be able to receive an interpretation of their prediction.

How to behave properly at the Japanese Meiji Shrine?

In the guidebook, which every visitor to a Japanese temple can take, one can read very important information, which teaches the rules of conduct in a Shinto shrine:

• First of all, this applies to those who wish to receive divine support - clothing and appearance must correspond to the current situation. Often dressed-up young people and crowds of tourists in regular shorts or jeans walk around the temple grounds. If the purpose of your visit to the temple is to receive support from the highest powers, you should be more thoughtful about your appearance.
• Before entering the inner territory of the imperial tomb, you should rinse your mouth and hands in the sacred fountain. This is the oldest custom in the Shinto religion - the rite of purification is one of the most important and revered.
• Approaching the main building, every tourist or ordinary visitor can give the gods a few coins by throwing them into a special box located near the entrance. It is advisable to throw coins from afar so that they ring and can awaken the powers of God so that they turn their attention to the person who donates his money.
• After this, it is advisable to bow twice towards the main altar and clap your hands twice (this is just in case the gods decide to take a nap again) and bow again.

That's all. After this, the supreme powers will certainly turn their attention to the person asking. And for greater persuasiveness and confidence that going to the temple will bring fulfillment of desires, you can turn to the gods in writing, leaving your request on a wooden “ema” sign. Such signs are hung around the majestic tree, and at the end of the year they are burned in the sacred fire. Thus, all desires go up with the smoke.

Foreign tourists and residents of the Land of the Rising Sun are happy to buy up amulets and talismans that are sold in the adjacent park. Here you can buy a family amulet, protection from damage and the evil eye, an amulet for successful studies or driving a car... In a word, there would be a problem, and protection from it would certainly find its owner. Fortune telling based on waka verses is very popular on the territory of the imperial tomb. Over the course of his entire life, the emperor and his wife created many works that were written as an edification to future generations.

Meiji Jingu(Meiji Shrine) is Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, one of the largest Shinto shrines in the country. The temple is located in Tokyo's Yoyogi Park, which covers an area of ​​700,000 square meters. This area is covered with evergreen forests, which consist of 120,000,365 trees of various species donated by people from all over Japan. Meiji Jingu is the most visited sacred monument in the world. Up to 30 million tourists visit this iconic place every year. Construction of the shrine began in 1915 to honor Emperor Meiji, who died in 1912, and his wife Empress Shoken, who died in 1914. After their deaths, a movement arose to create a sanctuary. The building was completed in 1920, but Meiji Jingu officially opened in 1926, and during the Great East Asian War, as the Japanese call World War II, the shrine was destroyed by the Americans. The renovation of the existing building, which was supported by many Japanese in Japan and abroad, was completed in 1958. Having visited this temple, every tourist realizes that only a majestic ruler was able to transform Japan into a modern state.

General view of the temple and park

The road to the temple itself through the territory of Tokyo Yoyogi Park takes about 15 minutes from the central entrance to the park. It is paved with gravel and surrounded by very tall trees. It is difficult for the sun's rays to penetrate through the tops of pines and gingko trees, so there is always darkness and an impression of abandonment here. Twilight in the park persists even on hot June days, when the temperature reaches 35 degrees, which makes tourists feel chilly and insecure surrounded by huge hundred-year-old trees. This park is covered with flowers or falling leaves all year round, reminiscent of eternal autumn. The shrine's grounds, surrounded by trees, are a representative example of unique Japanese temple architecture in the traditional nagara-zukuri style. Cypress from Kiso was used in the construction. The garden features all varieties of trees and shrubs that grow in Japan.

Meiji Jingu is not just a temple associated with the imperial family, it is a huge temple complex. In addition to the sanctuary itself, there is also a treasury and a palace of ceremonies. The treasury museum building is located in the northern part of the temple area. It is built of stone in the Azekura-zukuri architectural style. Various items from the reign of the imperial couple are presented here. In autumn, the paths on the approaches to the temple are decorated with decorative tents with planted chrysanthemums, because this flower is a symbol of the imperial power of Japan.

The Meiji Jingu Outer Garden, located approximately 0.7 miles (1.13 km) from the Inner Garden, is known throughout the world as a center for Japanese sports. Its creation was completed in 1926. The Outer Garden covers an area of ​​77 acres (31.16 ha). At the end of an alley lined with ginkgo trees is the Meiji Memorial Art Gallery, which contains 80 large murals illustrating events in the life of the emperor and his consort. In a corner of the Outer Garden is the Meiji Memorial (Wedding) Hall, where one of the important religious events, the Shinto wedding ceremony, continues to be held. Previously, this building was used mainly for conferences and meetings, where discussions on the draft Meiji Constitution were held.

Tokyo's Yoyogi Park is home to Tokyo's most popular Shinto shrine, Meiji Jingu. The history of the existence of this Shinto shrine is relatively short; it is 90 years old this year, an “infant” age for the temple. The decision to create this shrine in the capital of Japan was made shortly after the death of Emperor Meiji (1852–1912) and his wife, Empress Shoken (1850–1914). The years of reign of this imperial couple fell on the difficult years of the country's formation after the liquidation of the medieval system of military rule (shogunate) in 1868. In a historically short time, the country managed to get rid of medieval remnants and adopt positive experience developed countries, both in the economic and social spheres. The people of Japan largely associated these changes with the efforts of Emperor Meiji. Therefore, the enthusiasm with which ordinary Japanese greeted the decision to create the Meiji Jingu Shrine in the capital is understandable. Emperor Meiji was buried in Kyoto, but the new shrine, in accordance with Shinto traditions, was intended to house the spirits of the imperial couple. The former estate of Ii became the property of the imperial house. Both Emperor Meiji himself and his wife visited here more than once. A tea house was built for them on the shore of the pond, a platform for fishing. In Inner garden The main building of the temple and the treasure repository (personal belongings of the Meiji imperial couple) were located. The sanctuary is built from Japanese cypress wood, which is resistant to moisture. That's why they didn't even paint the walls. The roof of the temple is covered with copper sheets. Having acquired a green patina over time when exposed to air, they helped the sanctuary blend seamlessly into the greenery of the surrounding park. As is typical for any Shinto shrine, the shrine can only be accessed through the sacred torii gate. To build the Meiji Jingu Gate, trunks of huge 1,500-year-old cypress trees that grew on Mount Ari were brought from Taiwan (at that time it was part of the Japanese Empire). These trunks were almost 4 m in girth. The largest gates in the country, 12 m high, were erected from them, separating the inner, sacred zone of the sanctuary from the outer, secular one. And on the territory of Gaien, a Memorial Art Gallery was erected, where 80 paintings are stored, reflecting the stages of the life of Emperor Meiji, the Memorial Hall, now used for holding wedding ceremonies according to the Shinto rite, and the National Stadium. No matter how large the construction work was, the main efforts had to be spent on creating the temple park. A real forest of 120 thousand trees grew around the temple on 8.3 hectares of land. Since seedlings were sent in a variety of varieties and varieties, the surroundings of Meiji Jingu began to somewhat resemble Botanical Garden with a magnificent selection of national flora. The construction of the sanctuary was completed in 1920, and a few years later it was surrounded by green bushes with cozy paths, revealing to the leisurely pedestrian almost at every step more and more new views, often reflected in the mirrors of lakes. Surprisingly, Meiji Jingu is visited daily by thousands of believers, pilgrims, and tourists, but in the park surrounding it you can always find solitude and peace, which is not disturbed even by the sounds of the surrounding metropolis, which are unable to break through the dense foliage. According to the season, the park is decorated with flower meadows - azaleas, irises, roses, water lilies, and wisteria. The history of the Meiji Jingu is short, but this did not save the temple from turmoil. IN Last year During World War II, American bombers used incendiary bombs to destroy the sanctuary. Only in November 1958, through the efforts of thousands of volunteers, the temple and park were restored. This required a huge sum for those times - 600 million yen ($1.67 million), which was collected by subscription. The shrine is not only a tribute to Emperor Meiji. Thousands of people come here with their prayers. It is enough to buy a wooden ema sign for 500 yen, write a wish on its back, hang the sign on any tree branch or bush (all plants in Gaien and Naien are considered sacred), and the prayer is guaranteed to reach the divine

Rinno-ji Temple is the largest and oldest Buddhist temple in Nikko.

Initially, it determined the directions of Nikko’s religious activities. The main rector of the temple was the prince of the imperial family, as evidenced by the image of the imperial coat of arms on the main gate.

Inside the temple there are three large Buddha statues, which are located in the very big hall Sambutsudo (Hall of the Three Buddhas). This hall is the largest temple building in Nikko. Its height is twenty-five meters, length – thirty-two.

The original hall was destroyed in 1868 following the separation of Shinto from Buddhism, but was revived in 1887 after extensive restoration work.

Coordinates: 36.75332700,139.60094000

Daiyuinbyo Temple

A short walk from Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb in Nikko is the Daiyuinbyo Temple with the mausoleum of his grandson Iemitsu.

Unlike Ieyasu, the grandson was not deified in the Shinto pantheon, so the mausoleum is not called a shrine. It is somewhat more modest in scale, but made in the same gongen-zukuri style, lavishly decorated with gold, wood carvings, and sculptural images. Although Daiyuinbyo is a Shinto temple, one can easily detect the presence of gods and symbols of the Buddhist pantheon in it. The decor is dominated by Chinese motifs - with kirins, lions, tigers, dragons and flowers.

Coordinates: 36.75649000,139.63190500

Kantei-byo Temple

Kantei-byo Temple - Central chinese temple Chinatown area in Tokyo.

It was founded in 1862 by a Chinese emigrant who, having bought a sculpture of Guan Yu, decided to found a modern temple.

Soon after its founding, the temple became the center of religious life of the Chinese community. The temple has quite tragic story. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1923, damaged by air attacks during World War II, and damaged by fires in 1981 and 1986. However, each time the community restored its shrine. The last stage of restoration was completed only in 2000.

Coordinates: 35.69048500,139.69144800

Asakusa Kannon Shrine

Asakusa Kannon Temple, also known as Senso-ji, - ancient temple, which is located in the bustling Asakusa area and dates back to the 7th century.

According to legend, the 5-centimeter statue of the goddess Kannon, kept in the temple's altar, was caught by fishermen in the waters of the Sumida River in 628. The village chief brought her to his house, which he later declared to be a temple of the goddess.

After fires that destroyed the buildings, but not the statue itself, a majestic temple was built on this site in 645, which received recognition even from the shoguns, the military rulers of the country.

Unfortunately, Gangnon-do's main hall, which dates back to 1651, the famous five-story pagoda and massive gate were destroyed during World War II. The current buildings of the temple are a reinforced concrete copy of their predecessors.

Coordinates: 35.71480100,139.79683900

Futarasan Temple

Futarasan Temple is part of the Toshogu Temple complex. It was erected in honor of the deity of Mount Nan-tai. It is the oldest building in Nikko, dating back to 1617.

For many years the temple belonged to the Shugendo sect, which sought ways to save the soul through the asceticism of mountain hermits. Over time, the temple grew, and its individual buildings were scattered around Nikko. During the Yayoi Matsuri holiday (April 13-17), ritual kagura dance performances are held on the territory of Futarasan Jinja. But if desired, any pilgrim can order the performance of the kagura dance on other days for a reasonable fee. Futarasan Shrine reflects the idea of ​​Shinto nature worship.

Coordinates: 36.75851900,139.59648400

Narita-san Temple Complex

The Narita-san temple complex is the largest Buddhist complex in eastern Japan.

Narita-san was erected in 940. Currently, the complex includes the old and new temple halls, a three-level Peace Pagoda and other buildings.

The central object of worship is the statue of the Buddhist deity Fudo Myo.

There is a picturesque Japanese landscaped garden at the temple. The place is very visited by tourists. This is largely due to the proximity to international airport. Tourists who have limited time between transfers, but still want to get acquainted with the culture of Japan, often come here.

Coordinates: 35.78607000,140.31838400

Temple of Zoyoya

Zojoji Temple - There are rows of small statues of Yizobosatsu (guardian of the souls of stillborn children), some dressed in children's clothing and holding pinwheels. One of the strangest and most touching sights in the city.

Kotoku-in Temple

Kotoku-in Temple is famous for the Big Buddha statue located in the temple courtyard.

Now this huge bronze statue is the main attraction of Kamakura. Big Buddha became a symbol of this ancient city both for foreign tourists who come here and for any Japanese. The Japanese call it "Daibutsu". Big Buddha is declared a National Treasure and attracts 1.2 million tourists every year.

Height of the statue with pedestal: 13.4 m

Buddha height: 11.3 m

Yakuoin Temple

Yakuoin Shrine is a temple on top of Mount Takao where pilgrims come to pray to the mountain's Shinto gods.

The temple was built in 744 and is dedicated to Buddha, the patron of health. Unfortunately, during its history, the temple was completely destroyed by fire several times - especially severe ones in 1504 and 1677. Despite numerous fires, the temple managed to preserve more than two and a half thousand documents, which today can tell us about the history of the Middle Ages.

A visit to Mount Takao Temple offers stunning scenery and one of the most revered sacred sites that has been the center of mountain worship for over a thousand years.

Coordinates: 35.62508800,139.24365900

Temple complex "Serebryany Bor"

The temple complex "Serebryany Bor" is a temple complex that includes one hundred and three buildings that are located among magnificent nature.

Two of the main temples belong to Shintoism, and one to Buddhism. Nine buildings of the complex are included in the list of national treasures of Japan.

Located one hundred and twenty-five kilometers from Tokyo, the temple complex initially became a cultural and religious center. The complex was built in the 17th century as a mausoleum for Togugawa, the founder of the shogunate. The buildings are made in the traditional Edo period style.

One of the world's most famous landmarks is the three figures of monkeys - "I see nothing, I hear nothing, I won't say anything."

The complex was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Coordinates: 36.75814100,139.59913700

Temple of the young" pale grass

Senso-ji is the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo. According to legend, the temple was founded in 628 on the site of the discovery of a statue of the bodhisattva Kannon. In the 17th-19th centuries, the temple was the site of official prayer services for the Tokugawa shogunate. Before World War II, Senso-ji belonged to the Tendai school.

The ancient shopping street Nakamise-dori leads to the temple from the Kaminarimon Gate. At the beginning of the 18th century, surrounding residents were granted permission to trade on the approaches to the temple. Numerous shops sell souvenirs and traditional sweets.

Ise Shrine

The main religion of Japan is Shintoism, which uses various mythical spirits and deities as objects of worship. The main Shinto temple is Ise Shrine, which can be found in Mie Prefecture. The temple is dedicated to Amaterasu, the sun goddess and ancestress of the imperial family. This temple has special significance in Japanese culture, which is why they prefer to simply call it Jingu.

Ise Shrine is divided into two full complexes. The first of them is the Naiku Shrine, which is entirely dedicated to Amaterasu. The second complex is the Geku Shrine, where the main object of worship is the mythical cook Amaterasu and also the Goddess of Food - Toyouke.

Besides historical monuments, Ise Shrine boasts gardens, vegetable gardens, salt mills and even its own sake production.

Coordinates: 34.45501400,136.72579500

Buddhist Temple of the Goddess of Mercy Canon

One of the main attractions of Tokyo's Asakusa district is, of course, the temple of the goddess Kannon. The amazing temple dates back to 628.

Local residents are happy to tell the legend about the appearance of the temple. Their stories tell of two fishermen brothers who once caught a figurine of the goddess Kannon from a local river. Either scared, or not knowing what to do, the brothers threw the figurine back. But that was not the case - the figurine was hooked again. Having learned about this, the village elder took the figurine from the brothers and placed it in his house, thereby turning it into a temple. Subsequently, great changes awaited the improvised temple.

Today, the huge roof of Kannon Temple is visible from anywhere in the Asakusa area. Thanks to its exquisite architecture, the temple is very popular among tourists.

Coordinates: 35.31300200,139.53392000

Meiji Jingu Shrine

Meiji Jingu Shrine is the largest Shinto shrine in Tokyo, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife.

Built in 1920, the sanctuary was destroyed during World War II. Restoration was completed only in 1958.

Meiji Jingu is located within Yoyogi Park. The park is planted with tall trees, which create a constant twilight, which gives a feeling of abandonment. At Meji Jingu there is a treasury museum where various items dedicated to the reign of the imperial family are kept.

Each visitor has the opportunity to receive an omikuji - pull a piece of paper with a fortune in English from a wooden box. Before this you need to toss a coin.

Coordinates: 35.67661200,139.69935200

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

You can get from Tokyo to Kamakura in half an hour. This is where the famous Buddhist temple Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is located. Surrounded by sakura and azalea, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu preserves the ancient traditions of Japan and with its appearance produces unforgettable impression(especially towards the end of spring when trees and flowers bloom).

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine begins its history in 1063. The construction was initiated by the legendary Japanese military leader Yoriyoshi Minamoto. The temple is dedicated to Hachiman, the deity who personifies military affairs.

Near the temple over one of the ponds you can see the Drum Bridge. According to the legend, a person who manages to cross this bridge will gain longevity. But this is by no means easy to do.

Coordinates: 35.32608500,139.55643400

Meiji Shinto Shrine

The largest Shinto shrine in Japan is located in Tokyo. Meiji Jingu Shrine covers an area of ​​700 thousand square meters and is a center of pilgrimage for all Shinto believers. Peak visits to Meiji Shrine occur during the New Year holidays.

Meiji Jingu Shrine is relatively young - its construction began in 1915, three years after the death of Emperor Meiji. The name of this man is written in golden letters in the history of Japan; it was thanks to him that Japan got out of the deep Middle Ages.

The opening of the Meiji Shrine took place in 1926. The temple was subsequently heavily damaged by American bombing during World War II. The reconstruction lasted several years; the temple acquired its current appearance only in 1958.

Coordinates: 35.67640200,139.69930200