Shakyo Kuyo-e (Jushu Kuyo) – Memorial Service for Sutra Copies

Shakyo Kuyo-e (Jushu Kuyo) – Memorial Service for Sutra Copies

On October 29, a Shakyo Kuyo-e (Jushu Kuyo) memorial service for sutra copies will be held in the Main Hall of Senso-ji Temple. In this ceremony, sutra copies offered by worshippers and devotees with their daily prayers are respectfully burned and memorialized before the sacred altar. It is one of Senso-ji's important annual events, passed down since ancient times.

Sutra copying (shakyo) has long been practiced as a part of Buddhist training. Senso-ji accepts sutra copies year-round, and this memorial service is the culmination of that practice. Each sutra copy carries the wishes and feelings of the person who wrote it. By memorializing them through the solemn rites of the Jushu Kuyo (Ten Types of Offerings), the prayers embodied in the sutra copies are said to be joined with the Buddhist bond.

The sound of sutra chanting echoes quietly through the Main Hall, and the service proceeds in the solemn atmosphere that fills the hall. Visitors can watch the service and experience one side of Senso-ji in autumn amid a tranquil atmosphere.

Held in the clear autumn air, this memorial service offers a moment to step away from the bustle of daily life and quietly press your hands together in prayer. Not only those familiar with sutra copying, but also the many visitors to Senso-ji will find it a fine opportunity to calm the mind and offer a prayer.

If you plan to visit Asakusa on that day, we invite you to stop by the Main Hall and experience this solemn service.