Pagoda Construction and Buddhism Practice, A case of Sankarankovil Peace Pagoda

Pagoda Construction and Buddhism Practice, A case of Sankarankovil Peace Pagoda April Hueimin Lu1, Professor, NPUST, Taiwan Abstract An essay written about the tradition of Buddhism practice through constructing pagoda passed down by Japanese Reverend Nichidatsu Fuji , displays the example of World Peace pagoda in Sankarankovil in the southern India with an enshrinement ceremony in March. 4, 2020 by Masao Ishitani, Nippozan Myohoji. The context of peace pagoda construction and the tradition of Buddhism practice passed by of the Nipponzanmyhojii Order will be discussed. The origin of architectural style of stupa of 3 rd BC ~1 AD which the Sankarankovil pagoda comes from and its characteristics will be studied as well. The ritual ceremony related to construction of Nipponzanmyhojii peace pagoda will be studied as well. Finally, the relationship between constructing Pagoda and its Buddhism practice will be examined. I propose that a tangible heritage can always be well understood through an intangible heritage and then to preserve the inseparable both is indispensible and highly meaningful.

Key words: peace pagoda, stupa, Nippozan Myohoji, enshrinement ceremony Budhhism practice and Pagoda Construction Sankarankovil Peace Pagoda , Nippozan Myohoji , starting its founding ceremony by purifying the site in 2001 (March 24) and held the ceremony marking the enshrinement of Sakyamuni Buddha’s sairas within in 2020 (March 4) is constructed by Masao Ishitani2, the disciple of Reverend Nichidatsu Fuji (藤井 日 達, August 6, 1885 – January 9, 1985) 3.

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Prof. of Graduate Institute of Landscape Architecture and Recreation Management, NPUST, Taiwan； Director of Old Architecture Rescue Center, NPUST, Taiwan 2 Masao Ishitani was originally the spiritual leader of Japanese strict Hippies. He went to Indian to practice Hinduism to search for “the way to truth” and practice in Himalaya mountains. Masao Asami (from Siri Lanka) and ? (later became the attendant of Fujii Gruji )are as well the Hippies to Indian. Masao Ishitani went to Mombai to meet Fujii Gruji originally to preach the great master, but on the other hand, became his disciple afterwards in the age of 35. In 1982, the sage Nichidatsu Fuji instructed Ishitani to build it in South India. About 70 kilometers to the south, the 2000-meter mountain is Putuo Mountain, the birthplace of Guanyin Bodhisattva. Then he started to stay at Gahdhi museum in Madurai for ten years, and move to Sankarankovil temple after it was constructed in 2008 with the foundation ceremony of enshrinement of peace pagoda.

3 Sangha worldwide participating this ceremony includes Asami Shoni 淺見上人(from Siri Lanka), Nagase Shoni 永瀨上人(from London), Morisita Shoni 森下上人(from Italy), Tanaka Shoni 田中上人 (from Darjeeling, India) , Kitao Anjusan 北尾法尼(from New Dehli, India), Okonogi Shoni 小此木 上人 and Buwan (from Linjoshan, India) , Kakimoto Shoni 淹本上人 Kakimoto Anjosang 淹本法尼 (from Korea), Murakami, 村上上人(from Japan), Kinishi Shoni 大西上人, Ots Shoni 行秀上人 (from Taiwan), the master to bring Buddha sairas within pagoda.

Fig. 1 an air photo of Sankarankovil peace pagoda (1)(2020/03/02)

by April Hueimin Lu

Sankarankovil peace pagoda is situated at the Nippozan myohoji sanctuary, 150*100 meters, at the semi-arid plateau, at the foot of southern western Ghats(Fig. 1).

Seven kilometers to the south is the 2000 meters high mountain called Papanasam, thought to be the origins of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva.

Nippozan Myohoji, emerging from Nichiren Buddhism, founded the first temple by Nichidatsu Fujii in 1918/12/22 (in Liaoyan, China), revers “ Lotus Sutra “ chanting “Namyoholiangekyo” and passed down a tradition of “Constructing stupa as a major Buddhism practice.

Reverend Nichidatsu Fuji followed the prediction by Nichiren Saint (02/16,1222~1282/10/13) in “ Lianshiao Bafan Chao” (1280/12)4 that Buddhism will like “the sun” transmitting from east to west back to India in “the Buddhism deterioration time “ (sad-dharma-viprlopa) after 2500 years of Nirvana of Sakyamuni5. With the mission of regenerating Buddhism (西天開教), Nichidatsu Fujii went to India , Siri Lanka, and Mymar, 1931~1937, in 1933 he met saint Mahatma Gandhi , calling him Fujii Gruji (the great master) , following him with

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This is chanted during sunrise time of every morning by the disciple of Nippozan Myhoji.

In the November of 1916(32), Saint Fujii went to “桃尾潼瀑布下) to fasting practice for 7 days, he brought the coffin with determination meditating under waterfall, during the chanting he saw a farmer carry a child on back and chanting daimoku “Namyoholiangekyo” He decided to disseminate Buddhism by the chanting daimoku and beating a drum. 1916（32）11 月于奈良市桃尾滝瀑布 下进行七天断食修行，确信此生自行化他、广宣妙法、带来世界和帄的使命，将由击鼓持唱法华 经题、游行十方世界的修行而得以圆满。 5

chanting daimoku, soon become spiritual friends 6 In 1945, he was given the Buddha sairas from Indian prime minister and constructed “熊本縣花崗山”pagoda which uncovered his life of “peace pagoda construction with the transmission of World peace.” Then, the architect “大岡實博士(1900/09/29 – 1987/12/07)”, the famous “法隆寺” architect, started to participating to design pagodas since 釧路 Kushiro 1959 pagoda for 30 years. The first two pagodas 花岡山 Haraokayama 與 福井 Fukui may be designed by Reverend Nichidatsu Fuji himself with more rustic form transformed directly from the 3rd century BC stupa, slightly different from most of the following pagodas. He himself constructs more than fifty –five pagoda, and his disciples has constructed more than 70 pagodas till now ( https://nipponzanmyohoji.geo.jp/pagoda).

The practice of constructing stupa as offering Buddha, a Buddhism tradition to do merits, also comes from the Lotus sutra that Buddha Prabhūtaratna says in the 11 volume “ the appearance of treasure pagoda” in Lotus Sutra: “After the Buddha had perfected the path and immediately before his parinirvāṇa, he addressed the monks among the great assembly of devas and humans, saying: After my parinirvāṇa anyone who wishes to pay me homage should build a great stupa” 7.

However, for Nippozan Myohojii passed down by saint Fujii is even more strict and endless and tireless practice of Buddhism for any disciples by all means. Saint Fujii said that “constructing Stupa is not to construct the pagoda, but to nurture the Buddha mind, at once there is devildom in the mind, it has to practice Buddhism.” 8 6

Nippozan Myhoji was declared not to belong to Nichiren in 1933 owing to its world peace propaganda was not allowed by Japan government and not supported by the Nichiren. In 1937~1945, Saint Nichidatsu came back Japan responded concretely to the tragic catastrophe of the Pacific War, publicly announcing his courageous commitment to pacifism in the midst of a militaristic Japan.

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「彼佛成道已。臨滅度時。於天人大眾中告諸比丘。我滅度後。欲供養我全身者。應起一大塔。 其佛以神通願力。十方世界。在在處處。若有說法華經者。彼之寶塔。皆涌出其前。全身在於塔 中。讚言善哉善哉。」 8 菩提心(https://nipponzanmyohoji.geo.jp/preach/793) 自分の一生。身命をかけて取り組む時、回りの人の心が動き、信施が有ります。 其の時に宝塔が建ちます。日本山は、金を以て建てません。昔、私、此処（仏足山）で質素な 生活を致しました。蕨が生えておりました。蕨を切って生活しました。 下の茶園で選り別けて捨てた茶の葉を拾って来て、自分で茶を作って頂きました。 軽々しく人に金の問題を云い付ける事は、仏法には有りません。仏事は、仏事らしくせねばな りませぬ。我が誓願修行によって、人の心の中に宝塔が建ちますと、其の人びとが供養します。 石屋は石を、米屋は米を、お金の有る者はお金を、其れで建って行きます。日本山式に行こう とすれば、無一文にして建立に掛かります。その決心が無ければ出来ません。たとえ一生掛か っても差し支えありません。皆の心が宝塔建立と云う事になって来ないと建ちません。其れを 教化するのが、お坊様の仕事だ。仏様の心に適えば、宝塔様は必ず建つ、適わねば建たない。 其処に魔障が潜みますけども、魔障に負けない様、菩提心を養わねばならない。日本山の一門 の一生涯の仕事は、お金を貰う事でもなければ、お寺・宝塔を建てる事でもない。我が菩提心 を育てる事であります（昭和五十一年二月二十六日 仏足山道場）。自己的一生。豁出身體及

Style of Sankarankovil pagoda At the year of Sakyamuni’ nirvana, there constructed ten stupas to enshrine Sakyamuni’s sairas until Aśoka Maurya (304B.C.~232B.C.) bring 2/3 Sairas of each stupa distributing to 84000 stupas, supposed to follow the original styles of the ten stupas, whose styles followed by Nippozan Myohoji. Great Stupa of Sanchi (3rd century B.C.) was one of Stupas constructed by Asoka Maurya and well preserved.

The central brick construction and Asoka column are dated to (268BC-180BC), the stone construction and the circular railing (184B.C~72B.C.) and four gates was added afterwards (2th-3th A.D.). Besides, Bharhut stupa is similar to Sanchi (36.6m*16.6m) but destroyed on site and preserved in Calcutta. Stupa image appeared on the 1th century B.C. relief on the railing should be depicted according to the original ten stupas enshrined Sakyamuni Sairas or its contemporary prevailed style around 3rd ~1th century B.C. The architectural elements of a stupa include railing, platform, reversed-bowl shaped dome, flat head, pole wheel, phase wheel, jewelry vase (April Hueimin Lu, 2007 ).

Fig. 2. Diagram of Great Stupa At Sanchi. (https://www.alamy.com/stock-image-sanchi-great-stupa-diagram-163730127.html) Fig. 3. Cunningham， 1879, 1998)：PLATE ⅩⅥ左, relief on the railing (184B.C~72B.C) , stupa of Bharhut (Lu, 2007: 54, Fig. 11)

生命努力時，對周圍的人的起心動念，有布施。 那是建立寶塔，日本山不是以用建造。以前， 我在此地過著樸實的生活。將已經長的蕨類剪掉然後生活。 在茶園挑選茶葉帶來，自己煮茶。 佛 法也討論輕率的人有金錢的問題。 我發誓修行，建造人的心中的寶塔，讓其他的人們供養。石 頭屋用石頭，米屋用米，有錢的人用錢，各式各樣的去建造。 既然是日本山式的修行，決定身 無分文的著手建造。如果沒有這樣的決心是沒辦法的。即使建造一輩子也無妨。不用大眾的心建 造也無法。各種傳教的事是僧人的工作。達到佛陀的心，一定要建造寶塔。心中藏著魔障，就必 須修習佛法。日本山一門整個生涯的工作是，沒有收到錢沒關係，一定要建立寺廟寶塔。培養菩 提心。

Fig. 4. Thuparama stupa (247BC. ~207B.C.) in Siri Lanka Fig. 5. Tissamaharama pagoda (2nd BC) (https://www.akpool.co.uk/postcards/27363826-postcard-thuparama-dagoba-sri-lanka-ceylon-anurad hapura-ruins)

According to archeology remains and visual evidence of relief, stupa may have various shapes of stupa prevailed in the Asoka period. Except for the semi-hemispherical shape of dome such as Sanchi and Bharhut, the others, such as the oldest thuparamya stupa (247BC. ~207B.C.) and Tissamaharama (3rd century B.C. ~44AD) are pot shaped stupa preferred by Nippozan Myhoji. As told by Masao, “ I design Sankarankovil peace pagoda inspired by Tissamaharama pagoda.” (the interview with Masao Ishitani, 2020) Tissamaharama pagoda is 46.8 meters high, whose height is close to Sankarankovil’s 40 meters.

Fig. 6. An air photo of Sankarankovil peace pagoda (2) (2020/03/02)

by April Hueimin Lu

In the sanctuary of Nippozan Myohoji of Sankarankvovil, there is a temple, living quarter, Stone stele, and a small pagoda, a grand pagoda, a grave yard(Fig. 6.

Fig. 7. Sankarankovil peace pagoda, 52 meters in diameters 40meters high, an air photo of Sankarankovil peace pagoda (3) (2020/03/02)

by April Hueimin Lu

Fig. 8. Enshrining the Buddha relics by Ots Shoni Fig. 9. Masao Ishitani and the author In 1982, Fuji Guruji asked his close follower Masao Ishitani-Sensei to find a place to erect a pagoda in South India and give him fund, 2 months before being passed away owing to the suggestion of S G. Clarence Thanaraj, founded a temple at the Gandhi Museum in Madurai where he stayed for ten years. Later, Mr. M. Muthaiah, a lawyer and ardent member of the Gandhian Movement, donated a piece of land near Sankarankovil, In the more than twenty years since the Peace Pagoda Sankarankovil began, Ishitani-Sensei has tirelessly labored for the monastery, the temple, and finally the large pagoda (the interview with Masao Ishitani, 2020).

Masao Ishitani originally designed 20 meters high, one day, told by him that he dreamed of his master Fuji Guruji and reported to him with 40 meters high, then he ripped off all of his drawings and construct it all by divine power” (the interview with Masao Ishitani,

2020) . Sankarankovil peace pagoda hence, have a powerful form with its heavy volume, as the symbol of Buddha and Buddhism to lead people to touch the Buddha mind.

The measurements of sankarankovil pagoda are as follows(Fig. 10). The foundation is 4.5 meters high, and 1.5 meters up on the ground. The first platform is 52 meters wide 2.24 meters high, the second platform is 38 meters wide and 2.62 meters high, the diameter of the lower body of the dome is 26, the upper is 22 meters with 2.67 meters base, and the flat stupa is 7.5 meters wide and 6.10 meters high, the Nine Wheel is 8.45 meters with 2.43 meter base and pearl with 2.25mters. The level of the Nine Wheel is 31.55 meters from ground. The composition elements and shapes are very much similar to thuparuma stupa , the oldest stupa in Siri Lanka.

The form is derived from thuparuma of 3 rd BC and Tissamaharama stupa of 2nd BC, however, we do not know how those scales of platforms, dome, and other decorative elements are exactly set up, we can only say it is inspired by the stupas in siri Lanka as told by Masao Ishitani Shoni. Nevertheless, It is extraordinary that the Buddhism monks of Nippozan Myhoji can design and construct such splendid pagoda with beauty and form of powers.

Fig. 10. The measurement drawing of sankarankovil peace pagoda by Masao Ishitani Shoni in 2019/12/30, at the hight of 31.55 meters.

Enshrinement Ceremony Everyday morning chanting will take place in the main hall of temple, monastic and lay persons chanting daimoku “Namumyoholiangekyo”, beating a drum (tenku), and read Lotus Sutra, send the respects to the reverend Nichidatsu Fuji in the patriarch hall. Then go to chant around pagoda, and chant with sunrise, as the most beautiful moment of the day(Fig. 11~12).

Fig. 11. Morning chanting in the Buddha hall

Fig. 12. Patriarch hall

The procedures of Buddhist relic stupa enshrinement ceremony are as follows They are Invitation, Three Jewels, Offerings, Scattering Flowers, Opening the Scriptures, Seeing the Pagodas, Poetry, Self-sufficiency, Singing titles, Burning incense, Ancestral teachings, Four teachings, Four vows, Three returning, Giving gifts, Tutor's imperial words, Guests and honored guests, and Daily fasting(Fig. 13~15).

Fig. 13. Enshrinement ceremony(1)

Fig. 14. Enshrinement ceremony(2)

Fig. 15. Enshrinement ceremony(3)

Fig. 16 Pagoda was waiting for the rest of construction after the enshrinement , 2020

References Lu, April Hueimin(盧惠敏), 2007, “從巴赫特窣堵波浮雕圖像探討佛塔建築式樣( A Study of Buddhist Stupa Architectural Styles Based on Carvings of the Bharhut Stupa)”, Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal, no.20, pp. 41~64 Taipei: Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies, ISSN:1017-7132· Masao Ishitani, 2020/03/04, the interview with Masao Ishitani by April Hueimin Lu Lotus Sutra 11 volume https://nipponzanmyohoji.geo.jp/pagoda (https://nipponzanmyohoji.geo.jp/preach/793) https://www.akpool.co.uk/postcards/27363826-postcard-thuparama-dagoba-sri-lank a-ceylon-anuradhapura-ruins Lotus Sutra 11 volume