Peace Pagoda
Encyclopedia
A Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist
stupa
designed to provide a focus for people of all races and creeds, and to help unite them in their search for world peace. Most (though not all) have been built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii
(1885–1985), a Buddhist monk from Japan
and founder of the Nipponzan-Myōhōji
Buddhist Order. Fujii was greatly inspired by his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi
in 1931 and decided to devote his life to promoting non-violence. In 1947, he began constructing Peace Pagodas as shrines to World peace
.
The first Peace Pagodas were built as a symbol of peace in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima
and Nagasaki where the atomic bombs
took the lives of over 150,000 people, almost all of whom were civilian, at the end of World War II
. By 2000, eighty Peace Pagodas had been built around the world in Europe, Asia, and the United States.
The Peace Pagoda was awarded the Courage of Conscience award June 5, 1998 in Sherborn, Massachusetts.
, near the site where the Buddha is believed to have preached the Lotus Sutra
. The event coincided with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi
. The site also includes a Nipponzan Myohoji temple.
was inaugurated on 14th. November 2007 by monks and nuns of Nipponzan-Myōhōji
, the Dalai Lama
and the Lt. Governor of Delhi. It is situated in Millennium Indraprastha Park, North-East of Humayun's Tomb
, adjacent to Delhi Ring Road.
A traditional Japanese garden has been constructed in the area around the stupa. The garden is a joint project by the Fujii Guruji Vishwa Shanti Stupa Committee and the Delhi Development Authority.
in Ladakh
(Jammu and Kashmir
) was built by Nipponzan-Myōhōji monks, headed by Head monk Nakamura, with the help of local people. The Shanti Stupa holds the relic
s of the Buddha
at its base, enshrined by the 14th Dalai Lama
himself It is situated at a hilltop in Changspa village providing a bird's eye view of Leh town and the surrounding mountain peaks. The 14th and current Dalai Lama
, Tenzin Gyatso
inaugurated the Shanti Stupa in August 1985.
was inaugurated 23 October 1996. Vaishali is an important place in the life of the Buddha.
in Chiba Prefecture
is 58 m high and situated on a small hill.
Stupa peace pagoda in Nepal
was dedicated in November 2001 at the birthplace of the Buddha.
Balanced on a narrow ridge high above Phewa Tal, the brilliant-white World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara QTVR is a massive Buddhist stupa which was constructed by Buddhist monks from the Japanese Nipponzan Myōhōji organisation. Besides being an impressive sight in itself, the shrine is a vantage point which offers spectacular views of the Annapurna range and Pokhara city. There are three paths up to the pagoda and several small cafes once you arrive.
and Galle
.
The three-story Pagoda was constructed of Nepalese Terai timbers and assembled on the Expo site for the Expo. It was relocated to its new riverfront location at the conclusion of the Expo for the opening of the Parklands in 1992. It now features commemorative displays of the Expo and is a place for quiet and reflection. It features a Peace Bell, and there is a Peace Post in the Pagoda garden. This stupa is not associated with Nipponzan-Myōhōji.
district of Birmingham
. The Burmese monk and scholar, Aggamahapandita Rewata Dhamma (1929-2004), was the prime mover behind the building of the pagoda and the new Buddhist Centre that developed on the same grounds.
The Milton Keynes Peace Pagoda (52.057697°N 0.725436°W) was completed in 1980 at the northern edge of Willen lake in Willen
, Milton Keynes
. This was the first Peace Pagoda in the western world
. There is a Nipponzan-Myōhōji Order temple and monastery
nearby (52.055436°N 0.726181°W).
The London Peace Pagoda (51.482018°N 0.159025°W) was completed in 1985 on the south side of the River Thames
in Battersea Park
, London
. Permission to build it was the last legislative act of the Greater London Council
.
(Contrada Canicarao, 100) in Sicily, near the NATO base there.
(Winnipeg, Manitoba), Canada
.
.
The Peace Pagoda in San Francisco (37.785054°N 122.429827°W) is a five-tiered concrete stupa in Nihonmachi (Japantown
) between Post and Geary Streets at Buchanan. It is part of the Japan Center complex http://www.jtowntaskforce.org/ which opened in 1968. It was designed by Japan
ese architect Yoshiro Taniguchi and presented to San Francisco by the people of Osaka
, Japan. This stupa is not associated with Nipponzan-Myōhōji.
Technical School brought students from their electrical, plumbing, and carpentry shops to assist in building the temple.
The Grafton Peace Pagoda in Petersburgh, New York
(42.751109°N 73.408756°W) was dedicated in 1993. The site includes a temple, gardens, pond and the pagoda. Each year on September 11, a group of marchers begin a walk at the Grafton Peace Pagoda Site and end in New York City two weeks later.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
stupa
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
designed to provide a focus for people of all races and creeds, and to help unite them in their search for world peace. Most (though not all) have been built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii
Nichidatsu Fujii
Nichidatsu Fujii was a Japanese Buddhist monk, and founder of the Nipponzan-Myōhōji order of Buddhism. He is best known world-wide for his decision in 1947, to begin constructing Peace Pagodas in many locations around the world, as shrines to world peace.Fujii was born into a peasant family in the...
(1885–1985), a Buddhist monk from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and founder of the Nipponzan-Myōhōji
Nipponzan-Myohoji
Nipponzan Myōhōji , founded in 1917 by Nichidatsu Fujii, is a new religious movement that emerged from the Nichiren sect of Japanese Buddhism....
Buddhist Order. Fujii was greatly inspired by his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
in 1931 and decided to devote his life to promoting non-violence. In 1947, he began constructing Peace Pagodas as shrines to World peace
World peace
World Peace is an ideal of freedom, peace, and happiness among and within all nations and/or people. World peace is an idea of planetary non-violence by which nations willingly cooperate, either voluntarily or by virtue of a system of governance that prevents warfare. The term is sometimes used to...
.
The first Peace Pagodas were built as a symbol of peace in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
and Nagasaki where the atomic bombs
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the first on August 6, 1945, and the second on August 9, 1945. These two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.For six months...
took the lives of over 150,000 people, almost all of whom were civilian, at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. By 2000, eighty Peace Pagodas had been built around the world in Europe, Asia, and the United States.
The Peace Pagoda was awarded the Courage of Conscience award June 5, 1998 in Sherborn, Massachusetts.
Rajgir, India
In 1969 at RajgirRajgir
Rajgir is a city and a notified area in Nalanda district in the Indian state of Bihar. The city of Rajgir was the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, a state that would eventually evolve into the Mauryan Empire. Its date of origin is unknown, although ceramics dating to about 1000 BC have...
, near the site where the Buddha is believed to have preached the Lotus Sutra
Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sūtra is one of the most popular and influential Mahāyāna sūtras, and the basis on which the Tiantai and Nichiren sects of Buddhism were established.-Title:...
. The event coincided with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
. The site also includes a Nipponzan Myohoji temple.
Darjeeling, India
The shanthi stupas in India were established by Fuji Guru, a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi, for World Peace. The Nipponzan Myōhōji Buddhist temple at Charlimont in Darjeeling is one of them. Work on the Stupa began in 1972 and it was dedicated on 1 November 1992.Delhi, India
A Shanti stupa in New DelhiNew Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
was inaugurated on 14th. November 2007 by monks and nuns of Nipponzan-Myōhōji
Nipponzan-Myohoji
Nipponzan Myōhōji , founded in 1917 by Nichidatsu Fujii, is a new religious movement that emerged from the Nichiren sect of Japanese Buddhism....
, the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
and the Lt. Governor of Delhi. It is situated in Millennium Indraprastha Park, North-East of Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's wife Hamida Banu Begum in 1562 AD, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian architect...
, adjacent to Delhi Ring Road.
A traditional Japanese garden has been constructed in the area around the stupa. The garden is a joint project by the Fujii Guruji Vishwa Shanti Stupa Committee and the Delhi Development Authority.
Ladakh, India
The Shanti StupaShanti Stupa
Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist white-domed stupa on a hilltop in Chanspa, Leh district, Ladakh, in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It was built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura . The Shanti Stupa holds the relics of the Buddha at its base, enshrined by the 14th Dalai...
in Ladakh
Ladakh
Ladakh is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the Republic of India. It lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent...
(Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
) was built by Nipponzan-Myōhōji monks, headed by Head monk Nakamura, with the help of local people. The Shanti Stupa holds the relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
s of the Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
at its base, enshrined by the 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. Dalai Lamas are the most influential figures in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, although the 14th has consolidated control over the other lineages in recent years...
himself It is situated at a hilltop in Changspa village providing a bird's eye view of Leh town and the surrounding mountain peaks. The 14th and current Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
, Tenzin Gyatso
14th Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. Dalai Lamas are the most influential figures in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, although the 14th has consolidated control over the other lineages in recent years...
inaugurated the Shanti Stupa in August 1985.
Vaishali, India
The stupa at VaishaliVaishali (ancient city)
Vaiśālī was the capital city of the Licchavi, one of world's first republics, in the Vajjian Confederacy mahajanapada, around the 6th century BC. It was here in 599 BCE the 24th Jain Tirthankara, Bhagwan Mahavira was born and brought up in Kundalagrama in Vaiśālī republic, which make pious &...
was inaugurated 23 October 1996. Vaishali is an important place in the life of the Buddha.
Hanaokayama, Japan
Work on the first Peace Pagoda began in 1947 at Hanaokayama with basic hand tools. It took seven years to build, being completed in 1954.Sapporo, Japan
This Peace Pagoda (Stupa) was built by Nipponzan-Myōhōji monks in 1959 halfway up Mount Moiwa. It was built to commemorate peace after World War II and can be seen from almost anywhere in Sapporo. It contains some of the ashes of the Buddha that were presented to the Emperor of Japan by Prime Minister Nehru in 1954. Later, another part of these were presented to Mikhail Gorbachev by the famous Nipponzan-Myōhōji monk, Junsei Terasawa.Hiroshima, Japan
The Peace Pagoda was built in 1966 to commemorate the lives lost in the A-bomb blast, and contains gifts of Buddha's ashes from the then Prime Minister of India and Mongolian Buddhists.Narita-shi, Chiba-ken, Japan
Built in 1984, the pagoda at Narita-shiNarita, Chiba
is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is the site of Narita International Airport, the main international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area....
in Chiba Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
is 58 m high and situated on a small hill.
Lumbini, Nepal
LumbiniLumbini
Lumbinī is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi district of Nepal. It is the place where Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama, who as the Buddha Gautama founded the Buddhist tradition. The Buddha lived between roughly 563 and 483 BCE...
Stupa peace pagoda in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
was dedicated in November 2001 at the birthplace of the Buddha.
Gotemba, Shizuoka, Japan
Jeju Island, Korea
The Stupa is built on the site where Venerable Masters Bowoo (d. 1565) and Jiahn (d. 1729) died. They gave their lives for Buddhism. The Stupa is the centre of many activities for the propagation of world peace and the unification of Korea. One such activity is the Lotus Sutra writing movement, and on August 15 each year people come and place hand-written copies of the Lotus Sutra into the Pagoda. This stupa is not associated with Nipponzan-Myōhōji.Pokhara, Nepal
Unawatuna, Sri Lanka
The stupa here is on the headland between UnawatunaUnawatuna
Unawatuna is a coastal village in Galle district of Sri Lanka.Unawatuna is a major tourist attraction and famous for its beautiful beach and corals.-From Ramayana:The description of the beach paradises in Valmiki's epic Ramayana sounds like Unawatuna....
and Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
.
Brisbane, Australia
Created by the Kingdom of Nepal for the 1988 World Exposition, Brisbane's World Expo '88, the Brisbane Nepal Peace Pagoda is now a permanent commemorative structure of the Expo. It is located at the transformed Expo site, South Bank Parklands.The three-story Pagoda was constructed of Nepalese Terai timbers and assembled on the Expo site for the Expo. It was relocated to its new riverfront location at the conclusion of the Expo for the opening of the Parklands in 1992. It now features commemorative displays of the Expo and is a place for quiet and reflection. It features a Peace Bell, and there is a Peace Post in the Pagoda garden. This stupa is not associated with Nipponzan-Myōhōji.
Vienna, Austria
The Nipponzan Myohoji order led by Rev. Gyosei Masunaga have been active here for 25 years.Birmingham, England
On 26 June 1998, the Dhamma-Talaka Peace Pagoda was dedicated in the LadywoodLadywood
Ladywood is an inner-city area in Birmingham, England. It is a council constituency, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Ladywood ward and the wards of Aston, Nechells and Soho. In June 2004, Birmingham City Council conducted a city-wide "Ward Boundary...
district of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. The Burmese monk and scholar, Aggamahapandita Rewata Dhamma (1929-2004), was the prime mover behind the building of the pagoda and the new Buddhist Centre that developed on the same grounds.
Milton Keynes, England
Willen
Willen is a district of Milton Keynes, England and is also one of the ancient villages of Buckinghamshire to have been included in the designated area of the New City in1967...
, Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
. This was the first Peace Pagoda in the western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
. There is a Nipponzan-Myōhōji Order temple and monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
nearby (52.055436°N 0.726181°W).
London, England
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in Battersea Park
Battersea Park
Battersea Park is a 200 acre green space at Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth in England. It is situated on the south bank of the River Thames opposite Chelsea, and was opened in 1858....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Permission to build it was the last legislative act of the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
.
Comiso, Italy
On 24 May 1998, the Reverend Morishita dedicated a stupa (36.962°N 14.634°W) at ComisoComiso
Comiso is an Italian municipality in the Province of Ragusa in Sicily.-Geography:Comiso consists of three boroughs: Comiso, Pedalino, and Quaglio. It lies some 22 km west of Ragusa in the South of Sicily...
(Contrada Canicarao, 100) in Sicily, near the NATO base there.
St Norbert, Manitoba, Canada
A stupa has been constructed at the St Norbert Arts Centre http://www.snacc.mb.ca/ in St. NorbertSt. Norbert, Manitoba
St. Norbert is a bilingual neighbourhood in the southernmost part of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. While outside the Perimeter Highway, , it is still part of the city. The population is just over 5,000. Each summer, the community is home to the St...
(Winnipeg, Manitoba), Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Los Álamos, Valle de Bravo, Mexico
The Asociación Cultural Tibetana A.C. ("Garuda") is constructing a stupa at Los Álamos, Valle de Bravo, Mexico State under the patronage of Tenzin Wangyal RinpocheTenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche is a teacher of the Bon Tibetan religious tradition. He is founder and director of the Ligmincha Institute and several centers named Chamma Ling, organizations dedicated to the study and practice of the teachings of the Bon tradition.-Life:Tenzin Wangyal's parents fled the...
.
San Francisco, California
Japantown, San Francisco, California
comprises about six square city blocks in San Francisco, California, USA. San Francisco's Japantown is the largest and oldest such enclave in the United States.-Location:...
) between Post and Geary Streets at Buchanan. It is part of the Japan Center complex http://www.jtowntaskforce.org/ which opened in 1968. It was designed by Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese architect Yoshiro Taniguchi and presented to San Francisco by the people of Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan. This stupa is not associated with Nipponzan-Myōhōji.
Leverett, Massachusetts
The New England Peace Pagoda (42.498994°N 72.491108°W) is the first Nipponzan-Myōhōji Peace Pagoda to be built in the US and was completed in 1986. The Franklin CountyFranklin County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 71,535 people, 29,466 households, and 18,416 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 31,939 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
Technical School brought students from their electrical, plumbing, and carpentry shops to assist in building the temple.
Grafton, New York
Petersburgh, New York
Petersburgh is a town located in the northeast section of Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 1,563 at the 2000 census. The town was named after an early settler.- History :...
(42.751109°N 73.408756°W) was dedicated in 1993. The site includes a temple, gardens, pond and the pagoda. Each year on September 11, a group of marchers begin a walk at the Grafton Peace Pagoda Site and end in New York City two weeks later.
External links
- Dharmawalk.org: Information on Nichidatsu Fujii, Peace Pagodas and the work of Nipponzan Myōhōji.
- Peacepagoda.org, based in Leverett
- The official website for the Milton Keynes Nipponzan Myōhōji Peace Pagoda
- Pictures of the Milton Keynes Nipponzan Myōhōji Peace Pagoda.
- Grafton Peace Pagoda
- BUDDHISM FOR WORLD PEACE: Words of Nichidatsu Fujii at Milton Keynes in 1979, Translated by Yumiko Miyazaki, Japan-Bharat Sarvodaya Mitrata Sangha, 1980.
- Location on DigiLondon
- Übersetzung:de
- Buddha Sharira Stupa for Peace and Unification
- Opening ceremony of the 29th international Peace Pagoda project, Barrydale South Africa 2000
- Panoramic picture of stupa on the shore of the Danube
