Temple Bell, Bronze sculpture in Back Bay Fens, United States
Temple Bell is a bronze sculpture located in Boston's Back Bay Fens, standing about 3 feet tall with a 2-foot (0.6 m) diameter and bearing Japanese figures and characters etched into its surface. The work rests on a rectangular granite base positioned in the Fenway-Kenmore area of the park.
The bell was cast in 1675 for Manpukuji Temple in Sendai, where it served for over 270 years before being removed. USS Boston sailors discovered and salvaged it from a scrap yard during World War II, eventually bringing it to the American city.
The bell embodies a connection between Japan and America, presented as a gesture of peace in 1953, and its location in a public park reflects how both nations chose to honor this bond for visitors to experience.
The sculpture is located in Back Bay Fens near the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood and remains accessible year-round as a public artwork in an open park. Visit on clear days to see the bronze details and Japanese inscriptions more clearly.
The bell underwent restoration in 1992 and was recognized by the Smithsonian Institution's Save Outdoor Sculpture program in 1993, securing its preservation as an important cultural artifact. This official acknowledgment made it one of the documented examples of outdoor sculpture rescue in the United States.
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