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3. A Time of Destruction –-
Sho-Hondo Awaits Its Fate |
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SGI Office of Public Relations
Summary of Events surrounding the announced demolition
of Sho-Hondo
From the early 1960s, having contributed hundreds of temples
to the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood, and donated 80% of
the total land around its head temple at the foot of Mount
Fuji, the affiliated Soka Gakkai lay organization worked
towards contributing a “state-of-the-art”
main temple building on this site (the Sho-Hondo) to house
the primary object of worship for both priests and lay
members around the world.
Fundraising began in 1965, and in October 1972, following
enormous efforts by 8 million members of Soka Gakkai and
other lay followers, who raised 35.5 billion yen ($100
million at that time), the Sho-Hondo building was completed
and opened in ceremonies involving thousands of people
from many countries.
Six major construction companies co-operated in the construction,
and it set new standards at the time for reinforced concrete
construction. A total of 118,000 tons of concrete was
poured. The design of the building is extremely striking,
especially the suspension roof, weighing 20,000 metric
tons and designed to simulate the shape of a crane in
flight.
The main auditorium seats 6,000 and at the time of construction
it was the world’s biggest one-floor auditorium.
Enormous care was taken during the construction to ensure
that all materials used, especially the concrete, was
of the highest quality, with stringent monitoring at all
stages of the process. The building was constructed with
a very long life span in mind - at least 500 years - and
with protection against earthquakes incorporated.
In 1991, the priesthood announced the unilateral excommunication
of the lay organization Soka Gakkai International and
its 10 million members worldwide, refusing discussion
on the issues involved.
Since that time Soka Gakkai members have been unable to
attend pilgrimages at the Sho-Hondo, and overall, numbers
of people visiting the temple have dropped dramatically.
At the same time, efforts began to remove all trace of
Soka Gakkai contributions to the head temple area. First
came the chopping down of over 300 cherry trees donated
by the lay organization, then came the buildings.
In 1996 a major concrete building which had been donated
in 1964, the Daikyakuden or Grand Reception Hall, was
demolished, citing inadequate protection against earthquakes.
This building had been awarded the Architectural Society
Award in 1964 and the Builders Society Award in 1965,
and it was considered an outstanding example of modern
architecture.
When its destruction was imminent, the Japan Institute
of Architects appealed for its preservation, and the chief
architect, Kimio Yokoyama and anti-earthquake assessment
structural engineer Shigeru Aoki also appealed, stating
that there were no grounds for its dismantling. They had
proposed a series of simple options for reinforcement
which would increase the capacity of the building to withstand
strong earthquakes, but their recommendations had been
ignored. These appeals were dismissed and the building
was demolished. A traditional style building was constructed
instead using donations from lay followers still associated
with the priesthood.
This Grand Reception Hall had also housed a priceless
ceramic mural entitled “Phoenix,” a joint
creation by Takuro Kato, Japan’s premier master
of ceramic art, and Matazo Kayama, a distinguished artist.
Since the destruction of the building, this mural, in
pieces, had been left under trees on the head temple grounds
until a local protest group was formed calling for its
restoration.
Lay believers around the world had long feared that Sho-Hondo
itself might be next in line for destruction. In a sermon
in early April 1998, High Priest Nikken Abe described
the Sho-Hondo temple building as “a useless ruin
of gigantic stature,” and then on April 28 he issued
a sudden decision that the object of worship would be
transferred from the Sho-Hondo, to an older building.
The reason given for the transfer was the so-called “slanderous”
conduct of the Soka Gakkai’s honorary president
and the members of the lay movement.
It was also claimed that the construction was flawed,
and that ocean sand had been used in the concrete which
was now causing corrosion and staining on the marble exterior
of the building. These claims have been dismissed by those
closely involved in the construction. Extensive records
kept of every stage of the construction process demonstrate
that only river sand was used in the concrete production
and the highest quality standards were maintained throughout.
A notice has now been posted internally at the head temple
notifying the intention of the priesthood to demolish
Sho-Hondo, claiming that it is no longer useful as it
no longer houses the Dai-Gohonzon. It has been estimated
that the demolition would cost in the region of $35 million.
The companies involved in the construction, on being approached
to tender for this work have all refused to become involved.
Soka Gakkai International is deeply concerned by the prospect
of the destruction of a building of great cultural, architectural
and spiritual value, for no reason other than the personal
antipathy of the High Priest of Nichiren Shoshu towards
the Soka Gakkai. This decision takes no account of the
sincerity of the millions of individuals who contributed
donations towards constructing a building which was to
hold profound significance for Nichiren Buddhists for
centuries to come.
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