 | ||
Address Japan, 〒111-0025 Tokyo, 台東区Higashiasakusa, 2−1−11 Similar Shinobazu Pond, Kiyomizu Kannon‑do Temple, Kan'ei‑ji, Shinobazunoike Bentendo, Ueno Tōshō‑gū | ||
In Japanese a Benten-dō (弁天堂, lit. hall of Benten) is a Buddhist temple dedicated to Benten or Benzaiten, goddess of wealth, happiness, wisdom and music. Many such temples exist all over Japan.
Because the goddess was originally the personification of a river, Benten-dō often stand next to some source of water, a river, pond, spring, or even the sea. The goddess is routinely believed to be essentially the same as kami Ugajin within the syncretism of Buddhism and local kami worship called shinbutsu-shūgō. For this reason, Benten-dō can be found also at many Shinto shrines, despite use of the suffix -dō, which is the traditional designation for a Buddhist "hall". In contrast, the halls of Shinto shrines use the esuffix -den, as in honden. An example of the syncretic association is the Kawahara Shrine in Nagoya.