Nurturing world peace one pagoda at a time

Pokhara, Nepal Peace Pagoda – Source: andrewmiller via tripod.com

Until recently, I was unaware of the Peace Pagoda (or Shanti Stupa) program initially begun by the late Nichidatsu Fujii and is continued today by the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhists. This awe-inspiring effort to promote peace throughout the world began in 1947 as a way of honoring and remembering those who died in the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Since then, nearly 80 Peace Pagodas have been built around the globe and at least two that I am aware of are under construction presently.

Given that the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday (according to the Tibetan calendar) is being celebrated this coming weekend (June 21st), I could not think of a better way to honor that most auspicious event than to write a post on these magnificent structures, at least two of which he formally dedicated.

Milton Keynes, UK Peace Pagoda – Source: tripadvisor.co.uk

Here is a list of the Peace Pagodas, where they are located, and the year of their completion. Needless to say, many of them are situated on breathtaking sites.

Hiroshima, Japan Peace Pagoda – Source: buddaquotesonline.blogspot.com

When available, a weblink has been provided to information about the Peace Pagoda. Peace.

Darjeeling, India Peace pagoda – Source: the himalayabeacon.com

Asia

India

• Rajgir, India (1969)
• Dhauli Giri, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India (1972)
• Ladakh, India (1985 or 1991) – inaugurated by His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama
• Darjeeling, India (1992)
• Wardha, India (1993 or 1995)
• Vaishali, India (1996)
• Delhi, India (2007) – inaugurated by His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama

Japan

• Hanaokayama, Japan (1954)
• Fukui, Japan (1959)
• Sapporo, Japan (1959)
• Kushiro, Japan (1959)
• Himeji, Japan (1960)
• Atami, Japan (1961)
• Hidasakagami, Japan (1961)
• Wakamatsu, Japan (1962)
• Osaka, Japan (1963)
• Gotemba, Shizuoka, Japan (1964)
• Fushiki, Japan (1964)
• Aomori, Japan (1964)
• Hiroshima, Japan (1966)
• Nitsu, Japan (1967)
• Komoro, Japan (1967)
• Sensuikyo, Japan (1967)
• Akita, Japan (1967)
• Kiyosumi, Japan (1969)
• Wakasa, Japan (1969)
• Omuta, Japan (1969)
• Nagasaki, Japan (1970)
• Hyuga, Japan (1970)
• Tatsunokuchi, Japan (1970)
• Hondo, Japan (1972)
• Yamaga, Japan (1972)
• Buzen, Japan (1972)
• Miyazaki, Japan (1972)
• Koufu, Japan (1972)
• Kominato, Japan (1972)
• Usuki, Japan (1974)
• Sendai, Japan (1974)
• Sadiochinosawa, Japan (1974)
• Okutama, Japan (1974)
• Kanazawa, Japan (1974)
• Yui, Japan (1976)
• Yoshino, Japan (1976)
• Takamon, Japan (1976)
• Chitose, Japan (1978)
• Takarazuka, Japan (1979)
• Gifu, Japan (1979)
• Takeda, Japan (1979)
• Tagonoura, Japan (1981)
• Sado Ryotsu, Japan (1981)
• Tokyo, Japan (1983)
• Maizuru, Japan (1983)
• Nizon, Japan (1986)
• Hisayama, Japan (1986)
• Beppu, Japan (1987)
• Omura, Japan (1989)
• Mikawa, Japan (1994)
• Midori, Japan (1999)
• Narita-shi, Chiba-ken, Japan (2001)
• Mount Momomnataki, Japan (2002)
• Takarazuka, Japan
• Aso, Japan ?
• Kobe, Japan ?
• Utsunomiya, Japan

Nepal

• Lumbini, Nepal (2001)
• Pokhara, Nepal (1992)

Sri Lanka

• Sri Pada, Sri Lanka (1978)
• Bandarawela, Sri Lanka (1982)
• Walapane, Sri Lanka (1983)
• Ampara, Sri Lanka (1988)
• Unawatuna, Sri Lanka (2004)

Ampara, Sri Lanka Peace Pagoda – Source: journals,worldnomads.com

Europe

Austria

• Vienna, Austria (1983)
• Gfoehl, Austria (proposed)

United Kingdom

• Milton Keynes, England (1980)
• London, England (1985)

Italy

• Comiso, Italy (1998)

Ukraine

• Pankivka, Ukraine (under construction)

Grafton, NY, USA Peace Pagoda – Source: Robert-marchessault.blogspot.com

North America

Mexico

• Los Álamos, Valle de Bravo, Mexico (under construction)

United States

• Leverett, Massachusetts (1985)
• Grafton, New York (1993)
• Great Smoky Mountains/Newport, Tennessee (under construction)

Ladakh, India Peace Pagoda – Source: en.academic.ru

SOURCES: 

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Pagoda
• http://www.barrydale-online.co.za/associations/10-news/frontpage-news/341-celebration-to-commemorate-10th-anniversary-of-sas-peace-pagoda.html
• http://www.batterseapark.org/history/peace-pagoda/
• http://adrianprattinindia.blogspot.com/2014/03/pokharas-peace-pagoda.html
• http://amazinglanka.com/wp/japanese-peace-pagoda-roomassala/
• http://walapane.com/attractions/religious/peacepagoda/
• http://peace.maripo.com/p_pagodas.htm
• http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298183-d556803-Reviews-Peace_Pagoda-Utsunomiya_Tochigi_Prefecture_Kanto.html
• http://atlantadojo.tripod.com/gurujipage.html
• http://www.hearplanet.com/article/931997
• http://wikimapia.org/25388907/Takarazuka-Peace-Pagoda-Nipponzan-Myohoji