Ekō-in, Buddhist temple in Ryōgoku, Japan
Description
Ekō-in is a Buddhist temple in Ryōgoku, part of the Sumida ward, built on land dedicated to commemorating victims of a major fire disaster. The grounds include several memorials such as the Banninzuka mound and a section for animal burials set within a bamboo grove.
History
After the Great Meireki Fire of 1657, which claimed around 100,000 lives in Edo, Shogun Ietsuna set aside this land to establish a memorial site for the unidentified dead. Between 1768 and 1909, the temple grounds became the main venue for sumo tournaments, an era remembered as the Ekō-in Sumo period.
Culture
From 1768 to 1909, the temple grounds served as the main venue for sumo wrestling tournaments, marking a period known as the Ekō-in Sumo era.
Practical
The temple is located around five minutes on foot from JR Ryogoku Station and is easy to reach for visitors. The site offers burial services and memorial ceremonies for both people and animals without living family members.
Did you know?
The grounds hold the Chikara-zuka stone monument erected in 1937, where sumo apprentices perform prayers for strength before their bouts. This stone connects the temple to the living tradition of sumo wrestling in the neighborhood.
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