2023-12-14 10:32:13
Violence once morest women is not a recent phenomenon, it has existed since ancient times. Women face mental and physical attacks in many parts of the world. Divorce temple was built around 738 years ago for women who are suffering from domestic violence or suffering. It is also a Buddhist temple.
Prayer mantras will be filled around the temples and the smell of pooja materials will spread. Devotees are constantly filled with prayers and offerings but this temple is not like that. Built seven centuries ago, this Buddhist temple is a little different. This temple is also known as ‘The Divorce Temple’ and ‘The Divorce Temple’. Doesn’t sound strange, but natural. The temple was a refuge for divorced or widowed women for many centuries. It was also a center of learning.
This temple was established regarding 738 years ago in the city of Kamakura in Kanagawa, Japan. The main purpose behind the establishment of this temple, Matsugoka Takei-ji, is as a shelter for women who are victims of domestic violence or divorcees and widows. It was the need of the hour. Because the condition of women in that era was sad and heartbreaking. They had to face various kinds of abuse from their husband’s house and society.
It was very revolutionary established at a time when women had no rights in Japan and no provision for divorce. During that period, the temple became a refuge for women seeking refuge from abusive husbands or family. Another consolation for the people here was that often no one from the general society, especially men, was allowed to enter this Buddhist temple.
History of the Temple
The temple was founded in 1285 by a Buddhist nun named Kakuzan Shido-ni. At that time (between 1185 and 1333), women in Japan suffered from limited legal rights and many social restrictions. After the establishment of this temple, women who were out of luck or suffering in their married life started coming and staying here. Over time, the temple became a safe haven and an institution where oppressed women sought refuge and freedom from miserable marriages.
Then Takei-ji began issuing official divorce certificates to such women. This certificate granted them legal emancipation and freedom from marriage. These women were known as sufuku-ji. This Buddhist temple gained a lot of attention through these selfless and compassionate actions. People then began to call the temple Kakekomi-dera – Japanese for break-up temple, runaway women’s temple or divorce temple.
Visitors are allowed inside the temple premises today. The well-preserved temple is visually stunning with beautiful gardens to accompany the magnificent architecture. It was the intention of the founders to bring comfort through this environment to the women who have come to Valaya through miserable conditions. Although the temple does not deal with any issues related to divorce nowadays, this Buddhist temple is a reminder of the heartbreaking stories of women in the olden days. And, the empowerment of women in Japanese history
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