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[[Image:Hozomon-sensoji.jpg|thumb|right|320px|The ''Hôzômon'' (Treasure Storehouse Gate) and plaza, seen from the steps of the main worship hall of Sensô-ji.]]

[[Image:Hozomon-sensoji.jpg|thumb|right|320px|The ''Hôzômon'' (Treasure Storehouse Gate) and plaza, seen from the steps of the main worship hall of Sensô-ji.]]

*''Founded: [[645]]''

*''Founded: [[645]]''

*''Other Names'': 浅草寺 ''(Asakusa-dera)'', 金龍山 ''(Kinryuu-zan)''

*''Other Names'': 浅草観音 ''(Asakusa Kannon)'', 金龍山 ''(Kinryuu-zan)''

*''Japanese'': 浅草寺 ''(Sensou-ji)''

*''Japanese'': 浅草寺 ''(Sensou-ji)''

Sensô-ji, located in [[Asakusa]], is the oldest Buddhist temple in [[Tokyo]], and one of the largest and most famous. It is said to have been founded when peasants discovered a statue of [[Kannon]] floating in the [[Sumidagawa]] (Sumida River). During the [[Edo period]], when the area first became more densely built-up and developed into a city, Sensô-ji served an important spiritual function, as the chief temple defending the city from evil spiritual energies said to come from the northeast (the so-called ''kimon'' or "Demon's Gate"). It is a temple of great importance to both high and low, serving as a tutelary temple of the [[Tokugawa clan]], and unofficially as the chief temple of the [[Yoshiwara]] community.

Sensô-ji, located in [[Asakusa]], is the oldest Buddhist temple in [[Tokyo]], and one of the largest and most famous.  

 

The temple's origins are claimed to lie in the discovery, in [[628]], of a small, pure gold statue of [[Kannon]] in the Miyatogawa (the Miyato River, today known as the [[Sumidagawa]]). After this discovery by peasants who had been fishing in the river, a shrine or temple was built for the Kannon; Sensô-ji is said to have been officially founded, and its construction completed, in [[645]]. During the [[Edo period]], when the area first became more densely built-up and developed into a city, Sensô-ji served an important spiritual function, as the chief temple defending the city from evil spiritual energies said to come from the northeast (the so-called ''kimon'' or "Demon's Gate"). It is a temple of great importance to both high and low, serving as a tutelary temple of the [[Tokugawa clan]], and unofficially as the chief temple of the [[Yoshiwara]] community.

 

Sensô-ji was originally a [[Tendai]] sect temple, but in 1950 became the head of its own Shô-Kannon sect or school of [[Buddhism]], with 25 branch temples and 18 subordinate shrines.

[[Image:Kaminarimon.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The Kaminarimon, with its famous paper lantern.]]

[[Image:Kaminarimon.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The Kaminarimon, with its famous paper lantern.]]

==References==

==References==

*Plaques on-site.

*Plaques on-site.

==External Links==

==External Links==