Changes

[[File:Sensoji.JPG|right|thumb|320px|The ''Hôzômon'', main hall, and pagoda]]

[[File:Sensoji.JPG|right|thumb|320px|Nakamise-dôri, leading up to the ''Hôzômon'' (Treasure Storehouse Gate) and main hall, with the pagoda off to the left]]

[[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'' and plaza, seen from the steps of the main worship hall]]

[[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]]

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

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

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

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

==History==

==History==

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]].  

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]]. According to tradition, the peasants who discovered the statue were named Hinokuma no Hamanari and Takenari, and the one who made the statue a public object of worship, Haji no Matsuchi. These three figures are enshrined and worshiped at [[Asakusa Shrine]], a Shinto shrine on the grounds of the temple.

Sensô-ji was later restored and re-established in the [[Heian period]] by [[Ennin]].

Sensô-ji was later restored and re-established in the [[Heian period]] by [[Ennin]].

The temple is approached via Nakamise-dôri (仲見世通), a long street today lined with market stalls selling pseudo-traditional tourist goods such as folding fans, yukata, and costume geisha wigs, along with traditional sweets such as [[manju]], and other non-traditional merchandise. The market extends on both sides to other streets running parallel to Nakamise-dôri. At the entrance to Nakamise-dôri (at the opposite end from the temple's main worship hall) is the famous Kaminarimon (雷門, "Thunder Gate"). The red gate with its large paper lantern is an extremely common sight in guidebooks, tourist pamphlets and the like; the lantern is red, and inscribed with "Kaminari mon" on the front, and "Fûraijinmon" (lit. "Wind and Thunder Gods Gate") on the reverse. The gate is said to date to [[942]], when it was first built by [[Taira no Kinmasa]], and was originally located elsewhere, but was relocated to its current location in [[1635]] and rebuilt and expanded in [[1649]] by the [[Tokugawa shogunate]]. It has been destroyed time and again, as have most of the city's sights, and the current reconstructed version of the gate dates to 1960. The gate is more formally known as Fûraijin-mon ("Gate of the Wind and Thunder Gods"); installed inside the gate are statues of Raijin and Fûjin (Gods of Thunder and Wind) on the front, and Tenryû and Kinryû on the reverse.

The temple is approached via Nakamise-dôri (仲見世通), a long street today lined with market stalls selling pseudo-traditional tourist goods such as folding fans, yukata, and costume geisha wigs, along with traditional sweets such as [[manju]], and other non-traditional merchandise. The market extends on both sides to other streets running parallel to Nakamise-dôri. At the entrance to Nakamise-dôri (at the opposite end from the temple's main worship hall) is the famous Kaminarimon (雷門, "Thunder Gate"). The red gate with its large paper lantern is an extremely common sight in guidebooks, tourist pamphlets and the like; the lantern is red, and inscribed with "Kaminari mon" on the front, and "Fûraijinmon" (lit. "Wind and Thunder Gods Gate") on the reverse. The gate is said to date to [[942]], when it was first built by [[Taira no Kinmasa]], and was originally located elsewhere, but was relocated to its current location in [[1635]] and rebuilt and expanded in [[1649]] by the [[Tokugawa shogunate]]. It has been destroyed time and again, as have most of the city's sights, and the current reconstructed version of the gate dates to 1960. The gate is more formally known as Fûraijin-mon ("Gate of the Wind and Thunder Gods"); installed inside the gate are statues of Raijin and Fûjin (Gods of Thunder and Wind) on the front, and Tenryû and Kinryû on the reverse.

Beyond the Kaminarimon is a large market area extending to the left and right of the central pedestrian path to the temple, known as Nakamise-dôri. This street leads directly to the second of the two major gates, the Hôzômon ("Treasure Store Gate"), which in turn opens up onto the chief central plaza of the temple, and the central worship hall. This plaza is flanked by two small buildings where ''[[omikuji]]'', ''[[omamori]]'', and the like are sold; a large incense burner sits in the middle of the plaza, issuing purifying smoke. Beyond this plaza is the main worship hall (''hondô''), where, supposedly, the Kannon statue retrieved so many centuries ago is still enshrined.

Beyond the Kaminarimon is a large market area extending to the left and right of the central pedestrian path to the temple, known as Nakamise-dôri. This street leads directly to the second of the two major gates, the Hôzômon ("Treasure Store Gate"), which in turn opens up onto the chief central plaza of the temple, and the central worship hall. This plaza is flanked by two small buildings where ''[[omikuji]]'', ''[[omamori]]'', and the like are sold; a large [[incense]] burner sits in the middle of the plaza, issuing purifying smoke. Beyond this plaza is the main worship hall (''hondô''), where, supposedly, the Kannon statue retrieved so many centuries ago is still enshrined.

A five-story pagoda stands to the left of the main worship hall; the pagoda, along with the main hall, were named [[National Treasures]] in [[1907]], but were destroyed in 1945 and are no longer designated as such in their postwar reconstructed forms.<ref>Gallery label, "Oni-gawara of the Main Ridge Tile of Sensoji Kannon Temple," Edo-Tokyo Museum.</ref>

A five-story pagoda stands to the left of the main worship hall, across the plaza from where it stood historically, up until its destruction in 1945. The pagoda was first constructed in 942 by Taira no Kinmasa, along with the Kaminarimon. It was lost in fires, and rebuilt, on numerous occasions. One such rebuilding took place in [[1648]], under [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]]. During the Edo period, this 33-meter, five-story, wooden pagoda was considered one of the "four towers of Edo," along with pagodas at [[Yanaka Tenno-ji|Yanaka Tennô-ji]], [[Kan'ei-ji]], and [[Zojo-ji|Zôjô-ji]]. The 1648 incarnation of the pagoda survived into the 20th century, being named a [[National Treasure]] in [[1907]] along with the temple's main hall. However, both were destroyed in 1945 along with much of the rest of the temple, and are no longer designated as such in their postwar reconstructed forms.<ref>Plaque at former site of the pagoda, to the right side of the main hall.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/10568836544/sizes/l]; Gallery label, "Oni-gawara of the Main Ridge Tile of Sensoji Kannon Temple," Edo-Tokyo Museum.</ref>

Behind the central plaza, the temple complex opens up, incorporating a great number of small structures, sculptures, and greenery scattered across the grounds, including Asakusa Shrine, the main [[Shinto shrine]] protecting the temple.  

Behind the central plaza, the temple complex opens up, incorporating a great number of small structures, sculptures, and greenery scattered across the grounds, including Asakusa Shrine, the main [[Shinto shrine]] protecting the temple.  

A temple gate called Nitenmon is all that remains of a Tôshôgû that once stood within the grounds of Sensô-ji. Originally built in 1618, the Tôshôgû shrine was destroyed by fire in 1631 and 1642, but the gate survived intact. In the 19th century, a pair of 17th century statues from [[Kan'ei-ji]], depicting [[Jikokuten]] and [[Zochoten|Zôchôten]] were installed within the gate, giving the gate its new name, Nitenmon ("two dieties gate"). The Nitenmon was declared a [[National Treasure]] in 1946, but was downgraded to an [[Important Cultural Property]] in 1950.

A temple gate called Nitenmon is all that remains of a Tôshôgû that once stood within the grounds of Sensô-ji. Originally built in 1618, the Tôshôgû shrine was destroyed by fire in 1631 and 1642, but the gate survived intact. In the 19th century, a pair of 17th century statues from [[Kan'ei-ji]], depicting [[Jikokuten]] and [[Zochoten|Zôchôten]] were installed within the gate, giving the gate its new name, Nitenmon ("two dieties gate"). The Nitenmon was declared a [[National Treasure]] in 1946, but was downgraded to an [[Important Cultural Property]] in 1950.

The temple grounds also include a Bentendô ([[Benten]] Hall), known as ''rônyo Benzaiten'', or "old woman Benzaiten" for her white hair. It is counted as one of the Three Benten of the [[Kanto|Kantô region]], along with that of [[Enoshima]], and one located in Kashiwa city, in [[Chiba prefecture]]; it is said that this particular Benten statue was worshipped strongly by the [[Hojo clan|Hôjô clan]] of [[Odawara castle|Odawara]]. A bronze bell housed within the Bentendô dates to 1692, after being recast when earlier bells were destroyed. Measuring 2.12 meters tall and 1.52 meters in diameter, it served as the main bell announcing the time for the Asakusa district, taking its cues from the [[Hongakucho bell|Hongakuchô bell]]. The bell is immortalized in a [[haiku]] by [[Matsuo Basho|Matsuo Bashô]], and continues to be rung today, every morning at six o'clock, by one of the monks of Sensô-ji.

The temple grounds also include a Bentendô ([[Benten]] Hall), known as ''rônyo Benzaiten'', or "old woman Benzaiten" for her white hair. It is counted as one of the Three Benten of the [[Kanto|Kantô region]], along with that of [[Enoshima]], and one located in Kashiwa city, in [[Chiba prefecture]]; it is said that this particular Benten statue was worshipped strongly by the [[Hojo clan|Hôjô clan]] of [[Odawara castle|Odawara]]. A bronze bell housed within the Bentendô dates to 1692, after being recast when earlier bells were destroyed. Measuring 2.12 meters tall and 1.52 meters in diameter, it served as the main bell announcing the time for the Asakusa district, taking its cues from the [[Hongokucho bell|Hongokuchô bell]]. The bell is immortalized in a [[haiku]] by [[Matsuo Basho|Matsuo Bashô]], and continues to be rung today, every morning at six o'clock, by one of the monks of Sensô-ji.

Another small hall on the grounds is called the Kume-no-Heinai-dô. [[Kume no Heinai]] (d.c. 1683) was a samurai who lived at the temple, performing devotions and [[Zen]] meditation, praying for the souls of those he killed in swordfighting duels. It is said that before he died he asked his followers to carve a statue of him and bury it near one of the gates to the temple, so that countless people would step on it, helping to expiate the sins of his life. The statue was eventually recovered and enshrined within a hall on the temple grounds, where for some reason it came to be worshipped as a deity for a good marriage. The hall was destroyed in 1945, and rebuilt in 1978.

Another small hall on the grounds is called the Kume-no-Heinai-dô. [[Kume no Heinai]] (d.c. 1683) was a samurai who lived at the temple, performing devotions and [[Zen]] meditation, praying for the souls of those he killed in swordfighting duels. It is said that before he died he asked his followers to carve a statue of him and bury it near one of the gates to the temple, so that countless people would step on it, helping to expiate the sins of his life. The statue was eventually recovered and enshrined within a hall on the temple grounds, where for some reason it came to be worshipped as a deity for a good marriage. The hall was destroyed in 1945, and rebuilt in 1978.

Another famous bronze sculpture on the grounds depicts [[Ichikawa Danjuro IX|Ichikawa Danjûrô IX]], one of the most famous and popular [[kabuki]] actors of the [[Meiji period]].

Another famous bronze sculpture on the grounds depicts [[Ichikawa Danjuro IX|Ichikawa Danjûrô IX]], one of the most famous and popular [[kabuki]] actors of the [[Meiji period]].

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