Anrakuji Temple is the oldest Zen temple of Nagano. It is the only zen temple in Japan that has an octagonal three-storied pagoda. In Japan, pagodas are basically square. This is the only 1 wooden octagonal pagoda left in the country. So this rare structure is declared as a National Treasure of Japan. The octagonal pagodas in Nara and Kyoto were destroyed. So it’s very important as it is the only remaining octagonal pagoda in Japan.
Rakan hall. Sixteen Rakans are the disciples of Buddha. They attained the state of Nirvana. In the Zen sect, the Rakans are usually enshrined in the Rakan hall or on the balcony of the temple gate as protection. In addition, the seven Buddhas (Edo period) are enshrined in the Rakan hall of Anrakuji Temple.
Shoryo or bell tower. Originally it was built in 1769 in a combination of Japanese and Zen styles. But the original bell became a scrap metal for World War II. So this current bell was cast in 1957 by Katori Masahiko.
The main hall is surrounded by green trees. It has a thatched roof.
According to Rankei Doryu, the founder of Kamakura’s Kencho-ji, Anraku-ji was a big zen temple and was the center of Zen teachings in Shinshu (the older name for Nagano prefecture) in the Kamakura period, with the support of the Hojo clan.
You can see Shakyamuni (Gautama Buddha) flanked by Manjusri and Samantabhadra, forming the Shakyamuni trinity.
This place is really peaceful…You can offer your prayer here.
Now we are going towards Kyozo. Kyozo is a repository for Buddhist scriptures copied by priest Tetsugen. It was built in 1784 Inside here is rinzo, an octagonal revolving sutra shelf. This Kyozo is the cultural asset of Ueda City.
Denpo-do hall. You can see two important statues here. one is Shokoku Isen, who went to China for studies and returned in 1246 and later founded Anraku-ji. The second statue is Yogyu Enin, a Chinese priest who was the second priest of Anraku-ji. Statues were carved by Hyobu in 1329.
The octagonal three-storied pagoda was built at the end of the Kamakura period in the style of Zenshu-yo or Kara-yo (Zen or Kara style) which was brought into Japan along with Zen teachings. There is an octagonal Buddhist altar in the pagoda.
The height of the pagoda is 18.75 meters.
It looks four-storied but the lowest part of the pagoda is the eaves or the frost protector. The unusual form of the pagoda uses a pent roof on the lowest level. It is separated into the interior and exterior parts by eight columns. There is an octagonal Buddhist alter inside of this pagoda. But you can’t go inside the pagoda.
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AloJapan.com