Service held ahead of ancient pagoda renovation
- Jun 25, 2011
- 1 min read
Yakushiji, East Pagoda to undergo renovations
A service was held at a temple in Japan’s ancient capital of Nara to pray for the safety of a major renovation work on an 8th century pagoda.
With its decorative roofs, the 3-story East Pagoda at Yakushiji, a Buddhist temple, is designated as a national treasure.
The pagoda will be taken apart and rebuilt, as its main pillar and other parts of the structure are decaying.
About 4,000 people attended the service on Saturday to pray for the safety of the work.
Monks scattered colorful flower-shaped bits of paper in a ritual called Sange.
The wooden plates inside the pagoda, on which the names of those involved in past renovations are written, were brought down, and the chief monk prayed for the safety of the renovation work.
Spectators applauded as kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro performed a celebratory dance in dedication.
The East Pagoda will soon be surrounded by a fence, and will not be seen until the renovation work ends in the end of 2019.
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