Jōkan-ji

Jōkan-ji (浄閑寺) is a buddhist temple in Tokyo, Japan. Its cemetery houses the remains and spirits of about 25,000 prostitutes and fire victims of the Yoshiwara quarter of the Edo period. A memorial to the dead was consecrated in the Meiji era.[1]

Modern entrance of Jōkan-ji in Tokyo

The temple was opened on 1655. The dead bodies of prostitutes of the Yoshiwara quarter who were too poor, which was the vast majority of them, were tucked into a hay mat and brought to the back entrance of the temple and left there. This is frequently and incorrectly claimed as the reason that the temple became popularly known as Nage-komi-dera (Throw-away temple).[1] However, the actual reason for the name is due to the mass burial of about 500 prostitutes after Great Ansei earthquake in 1855 which was done in haste to prevent disease. Additionally, the use of hay mat and abandonment were limited to those who committed crimes and/or broke rules of brothels prior to death.[2]

See also

References
  1. O'Connell, Jim (28 October 2008). "The 'Throw-Away Temple'". Jim O’Connell Photographs, The Blog. Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  2. 浄閑寺の史跡. jyokanji.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 13 June 2017.


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