buddha statue threatened and protected by fist of guardian deity, in grounds of Gokokuji, temple, bunkyo, tokyo, japan

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Gokokuji is a temple of the Shingon (True Word) sect of Buddhism. Gokokuji was founded in 1681 by the fifth shogun Tsunayoshi Tokugawa to commemorate his natural mother, Keishoin. Gokokuji is perhaps unique in Tokyo in having survived over three centuries unscathed by fires, earthquakes and wars such as the Boshin Civil War of the late 1860s, the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and the American bombing of World War II. Gogokuji therefore offers a rare look at an authentic Edo Period structure, unlike the vast majority of temples in Japan which have been rebuilt only decades ago. Gokokuji is closely associated with the Tokugawa family that ruled Japan in the Edo Period 1603-1868 and even contains plaques written by the hand of the fifth Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. Read more: #ixzz4MLY43Qz6

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Size: 4608px × 3456px
Location: Gokokuji, Bunkyo, tokyo, Japan
Photo credit: © John Steele / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: asia, buddha, buddhism, bunkyo, deity, east, gokokuji, guardian, japan, japanese, protect, religion, temple, threat, tokyo