3-4. Nikko Tosho-gu - Corrective Maintenance Background of Nikko Tosho-gu Nikko Tosho-gu in Japan. It is a temple for Shogun (General) Tokugawa Ieyasu. General unity Japan in 1603 and ended the period of warring states. After his death, people built up the temple where his eternal resting place was. In Japan, it is common that powerful leaders were posthumously apotheosized and worshiped as tutelary deities. This temple is not only a place of prayer but also a symbol of a country's ruler resting place. Because of its importance, from the very beginning of the construction of this temple, the builder had thought of the subsequent preservation method, that is, to leave the most detailed sketches including painting, engraving design drawings, construction methods, etc. These are all contributed to the subsequent preservation. In the beginning, Toshogu was not what we familiar with nowadays. After it was completed in 1617, the style was not as magnificent as it is now, or even plain. However, in 1634-1635, the three generations of General Tokugawa Iemitsu ordered to reconstruct the temple into now that everyone was familiar with it. The very first restoration began in 1654 and since then there is always has restoration work every 20 years. 28 In 1879, due to the new Meiji government budget issue, they can not support the repair funds of Toshogu. As a result, Toshogu was unable to carry out regular maintenance, as usual, therefore local private volunteers started to form "Hokoukai" to help Toshogu. This organization later became the "Nikko Shrine Cultural Preservation Association"( 日光社寺文化保存協会 ) which is now mainly responsible for the affairs of Nikko Toshogu. From its completion to the present, Toshogu has undergone 19 times restoration. Among those repaired, the Showa and Heisei restoration is the large-scale repairs. In 2019, Heisei restoration finally came to an end. With sufficient knowledge and technology, the temple was finally able to be presented to the public in a complete appearance and allowing the temple to be preserved and revitalized. Nikkō Tōshō-gū has kept its original functions from the beginning to the present and even preserved all the materials of the temple itself. It has achieved complete preservation and restoration, giving new life and maintaining its original appearance. In terms of space, without destroying the temple building itself, large-scale events such as weddings and prayers will also be held. It is in line with the modern without destroying its cultural and traditional meaning.
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