{"id":335,"date":"2024-07-27T23:27:52","date_gmt":"2024-07-27T23:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nipponzan.org\/?page_id=335"},"modified":"2026-06-04T17:37:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T17:37:36","slug":"the-pacific-northwest-peace-pagoda","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nipponzan.org\/index.php\/events\/the-pacific-northwest-peace-pagoda\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pacific Northwest Peace Pagoda"},"content":{"rendered":"
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at the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action in Poulsbo, Washington, USA<\/h2>\n\n\n
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The Pacific Northwest Peace Pagoda is a project of the Nipponzan Myohoji hosted on the site of the Ground Zero Nonviolent Action Center. The Nipponzan Myohoji is an order of Japanese Buddhists with a temple on Bainbridge Island, not far from the pagoda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing a deep conviction for peace on Earth, the temple monks work shoulder-to-shoulder with members of the Ground Zero center to make this lasting focal point for peace. The Pacific Northwest Pagoda is expected to be ready to welcome visitors in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See photos of the recent Rakkei Shiki – Inauguration Ceremony, held May 23, 2026, here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn the complete story of the pagoda and the peace movement at Ground Zero<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kitsap Sun writer Josh Farley gives a great account of the history of the project and how it came to be at Ground Zero. Read his article here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Understanding a Peace Pagoda<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Peace pagodas have several characteristic elements, including a stupa, circular dome, sorin, and relics.
A stupa, the base of the pagoda, is the concrete expression of eternal Dharma. The intriguing procedure of cosmic manifestation and its reabsorption through mystic knowledge into supreme reality is symbolized in a stupa. Therefore, the shape of each part of a stupa is symbolic. The square base symbolized the rigid ritualism and fundamental virtues.
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A circular dome symbolic of freedom from earthly bonds is rested on this square base. Circular rings on the top are called the wheels, each one signifying mystical power.
The dimensionless topmost focal point indicates the heavenward way to Nirvana. The entire structural philosophy of the stupa is sanctified by inserting Dhatu (relics of Buddha) inside.
The purpose behind the establishment of a Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda) is to disseminate love and peace among mankind, a mission undertaken by Emperor Ashoka more than 2,000 years ago by building stupas, erecting pillars, thereupon engraving the message of love and peaceful coexistence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order – Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\u201cTrue peace is brought about when man pledges himself never to take the lives of
others and abandons the idea of killing. This teaching must now be disseminated throughout the world.
It is not difficult. If humanity hopes to survive, we have only to resolve not to kill others. It is false to talk of peace while possessing weapons destined to take life. When we talk of peace, we must lay down all murderous tools.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-The Most Venerable
Nichidatsu Fujii (Fujii Guruji)
Founder of Nipponzan Myohoji
(1885 – 1985)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I learn more about this project? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The good people at Ground Zero have done a great job keeping records of the pagoda’s development for decades. Check here for a trove of information about the Peace Pagoda. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together we can achieve peace on earth.<\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

at the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action in Poulsbo, Washington, USA The Pacific Northwest Peace Pagoda is a project of the Nipponzan Myohoji hosted on the site of the Ground Zero Nonviolent Action Center. The Nipponzan Myohoji is an order of Japanese Buddhists with a temple on Bainbridge Island, not far from the pagoda.… Continue reading The Pacific Northwest Peace Pagoda<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":51,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-335","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","without-featured-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nipponzan.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nipponzan.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nipponzan.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nipponzan.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nipponzan.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=335"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/nipponzan.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/335\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":568,"href":"https:\/\/nipponzan.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/335\/revisions\/568"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nipponzan.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/51"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nipponzan.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}