Buddhist Temple of Chicago
Address
1151 W. Leland Ave.
Neighborhood
Hours
Sat, Oct 14: 10am - 5pm
Sun, Oct 15: 1pm - 5pm
Architect/Year
Parallel Architecture, 2006
Website
Description
This six-sided temple has the same shape and proportions as the Rokkakudo Temple in Kyoto, Japan, where the Japanese Pure Land tradition of Buddhism developed. Founded in Hyde Park in 1944, the temple was established to support Japanese-Americans just released from internment camps. In 1956, urban renewal projects drove it to a former church on the site it occupies today. Among the oldest Buddhist temples in Chicago, its accessibility to English speakers has made it diverse and multicultural. The interior of the new temple is minimalistic and capped by a timber roof resting on radiating trusses. Focal points include a stunningly detailed Amida Buddha altar and a series of hand-carved depictions of the life of the Buddha. Off to the side is the Nokotsudo, a small room for the temporary storage of cremated remains. The room also houses an altar built of scraps by interned Japanese-Americans during World War II.
Visitor Experience
Visitors will enjoy a station-by-station experience covering details on the temple's architecture, Japanese-American history, and an explanation of Buddhist art and ornaments.
Categories
Open Saturday , Open Sunday , Photography Permitted , Sacred Space , Washrooms Available , Wheelchair Accessible