Shibamata Taishakuten, Buddhist temple in Shibamata, Tokyo, Japan.
Shibamata Taishakuten is a Buddhist temple in Shibamata, eastern Tokyo, surrounded by an older residential neighborhood. The complex includes a main hall, a landscaped garden, and galleries with elaborately carved wooden panels on the outer walls of the hall.
Two monks of the Nichiren school founded the temple in the early 17th century as a place for teaching and devotion. Its present importance came later after a priest in the late 18th century promoted worship of the protective deity and drew more pilgrims.
The site takes its name from a deity in Buddhist texts who wards off evil and protects believers. Visitors can watch people lighting incense and offering prayers at the main altar.
The wood carvings are best seen in daylight when natural light brings out the details. The garden and gallery require an admission fee, while access to the main courtyard is free.
A statue of the deity carved by a monk in the 13th century remained hidden inside the ceiling for centuries. Workers rediscovered it by chance during repair work on the main hall.
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