Kannon Do hall of Senso-ji temple is the main hall of the temple. The entire temple has been declared as the national treasure of Japan. By the end of 18th century and till the early 19th century , Edo city was the most populated city of the world and during this time Asakusa became the cultural centre of Edo.
Beyond the second gate of the temple is the main hall and beyond it is the five storied pagoda. In 645, a Buddhist priest named Shokai came to this region and built a hall for the Kannon. This temple was destroyed many times but was worst affected in the 1945 attack. The temple was then rebuilt by 1958, and has been perceived as a symbol of rebirth and peace by Japanese people. In the courtyard there is a tree that was hit by a bomb in the air raids, and it had regrown in the husk of the old tree and is a similar symbol as the temple itself.
The main hall is the most beautiful structure of the complex along with the five storied pagoda. The hall is divided into two parts; the inner sanctum is called Naijin ( inner search) and outer part is called gejin(outside person). Since Shokai decided to hide the original statue of Kannon from the view of the public, it has been kept in a miniature temple within the complex with multiple locks. To pray in the main hall there is a place to put hands together and chant for Kannon.
The hall has a dramatic sloping roof which makes the structure architectural marvel. The temple now has a titanium tiled roof that maintains a historic image but is stronger and lighter.
In the main hall (Kannon-do), there are two masterpieces of calligraphy by Noguchi Sekko. Japan is a country well known for its strong homogeneity, purity of culture and traditions, and robust group identity. Naijin and Genin are the two words with a deeper sense of meaning in Japanese culture. The explicit example of intangibility associated with architectural spaces.
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