Temple Bell from Japan, made around 1675

There is a bronze plaque on the pillar that states that is an old temple bell and that it was brought to Boston by the crew of the U.S.S. Boston with the blessing of the Manpukji Temple as a symbol of peace.

The bell was cast by "Tanaka Gonzaemon under the supervision of Suzuki Magoemon, and dedicated to Bishamon, a Buddhist god of children and good luck." To obtain metal for the war effort, many of these temple bells were removed and given to the forges. The crew of the USS Boston found this bell in the scrap heap at the Yokosuka naval base. "Sailors from the USS Boston (CA-69) salvaged the bell after WW-II and offered it to the city of Boston in 1945. In October 1953, Kyukichi Anzai, Representative of the Believers' Committee of Manpukuji Temple, Sendai (Japan), presented the bell to Boston 'in order to create close friendship between the citizens of Boston and the citizens of Sendai as a link for the attainment of peace in the world.' In 1993, 'the bell was restored through funding from the Japan Foundation.' In September 2004, the bell was knocked over by vandals, then taken to a park department warehouse for safekeeping and cleaning, but it was later restored to its pedestal in Back Bay Fens."

Photo 433, April 2012

Temple Bell from Japan

Photo 20g, July 2012

Temple Bell from Japan

Photo 21g, July 2012