New England Peace Pagoda facts for kids
The New England Peace Pagoda is a special building dedicated to peace, located in Leverett, Massachusetts. It was the very first peace pagoda of its kind, built by the Nipponzan-Myōhōji Buddhist order in the United States. This important landmark was completed in 1985.
What is a Peace Pagoda?
A peace pagoda is a Buddhist temple designed to inspire peace and unity among all people. These beautiful, dome-shaped structures are built around the world. They remind everyone to work towards a peaceful future and to reject violence.
The Vision of Nichidatsu Fujii
The idea for modern peace pagodas came from a Buddhist monk named Nichidatsu Fujii. He started the Nipponzan Myohoji order. After the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, he built his first pagoda. This was a powerful symbol for universal peace.
Fujii wanted to bring back an ancient tradition of stupa design from India. He believed that seeing a pagoda would "touch the hearts and minds of all people." He also felt that those who respected the pagoda would reject nuclear war. They would also strongly believe that a peaceful world could be created.
Before he passed away in January 1985, at 100 years old, Fujii had inspired many pagodas. More than 70 were built across Asia and Europe. He also saw the start of the very first one in North America, the Leverett Peace Pagoda.
Building the Leverett Peace Pagoda
The land for the New England Peace Pagoda was a wooded hilltop in western Massachusetts. This land was given as a gift to the Nipponzan Myohoji order. Many people also volunteered their time and skills to help build it.
Over 1,000 volunteers from different faiths worked together on the project. Students from Franklin County Technical School also helped. They came from the electrical, plumbing, and carpentry shops to assist in building the temple. This teamwork showed the spirit of unity and peace that the pagoda represents.
