日本語 | English

■ We are featuring Stationery from Feb. 29 to Mar. 30.







Atom_feed
Shitennō-ji
The First Buddhist Temple in Japan, But...
Date:19, Apr, 2018
Investigated and Written by Misaka Youhei
About our introductory articles


Shitennō-ji (Japanese: 四天王寺) is a Buddhist temple in Osaka, Japan. It is usually regarded as the first Buddhist one in Japan, along with Horyu-ji.

The historic temple was founded by Shotoku Taishi (Prince Shotoku) in 593, according to the Nippon Shoki. What's the Shitennō? They have been believed to be the four deities watching over each cardinal direction of the world.



Usually, Japanese temples almost have Buddhist denominations like Rinzai and Soto. It has no denomination, however. I am not so familiar but it is said that Shitennō-ji has Waso denomination over all of Buddhism.

The temple has been standing so long. Of course, it has suffered from war damages many times. For instance, it was bombed, burnt to ashes by an air raid of the United States in 1945.



Today, it is said that they are pushing out the vagabonds living in a park near the temple. Buddhism tells us that we must be broad‐minded enough to show tolerance toward all sorts of men, however.

Removing vagabonds almost means that the minority are pretty difficult to live on in Osaka. I am kind of difficult to say that their exclusion will do something good for Osaka.

The precious temple is standing in Osaka actually as mentioned above. But I hardly believe that Buddhism has spread over Osaka.







 

四天王寺
大阪に建つ日本最古の仏教寺院、だけど…

本能寺
本当は怖い、戦国時代の本能寺?