Siam's bond with Japan

Japan is one of the most popular destinations for Thai tourists, but not many visitors know about the history of Nittaiji Temple in Nagoya, which was built to celebrate the bond between Japan and old Siam.

Most Thai visitors to the temple might be surprised to see the statue of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), which has stood there for two decades. The statue was unveiled by HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn in 1987 to mark 100 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Thailand.

The two countries began diplomatic relations with the signing of the Declaration of Amity and Commerce in 1887. This happened in the 20th year of the Meiji Period (1817-1912) and the 19th year of King Chulalongkorn's reign (1868-1910) in Siam.

The friendship between the two countries was developed not only in trade, but also in Buddhism.

Nittaiji Temple was built in 1904 to enshrine a portion of the Lord Buddha's relics, offered by King Chulalongkorn to the Japanese Buddhist commu¬nity during the Meiji Period.

"Buddha's relics were discovered in an urn at a stupa in India in 1897. After identifying the inscription on the urn and finding that it contained part of Buddha's relics, Lord Curzon [governorgeneral and viceroy of India] presented it to Siam," said Buddhist scholar Somrit Luechai.

"In 1898, King Chulalongkorn sent his representative [Phraya Sukhumnaiwinit] to India to bring part of the Buddha's relics to Siam."

Today, the urn is part of the collection of the Calcutta Museum, he added.

A study trip to Nittaiji Temple was recently organised by the Foundation for the Promotion of Social Sciences and Humanities Textbooks Project and Toyota Foundation (Thailand) to mark the 120th anniversary of ties between Japan and Thailand.

Historian Thamrongsak Petchlertanan said the British presented Buddha's relics to Siam because it was the only independent country in Southeast Asia at the time and represented Buddhism in the region.

King Chulalongkorn enshrined the relics at Wat Srakesa Rajavaramahavihara [better known Wat Seakes or The Golden Mount] in Bangkok.

Three years later, in 1900, the government of Emperor Meiji sent a Buddhist mission to Siam to ask King Chulalongkorn for a portion of the Buddha's relics, Somrit said.

To cement the good relations between Japan and Siam, the King agreed to divide the relics and share it with Japan.

On their return from Siam, the Japanese mission held a conference among the Japanese Buddhist community and decided to build a new temple in Nagoya to house the holy relics.

When he learned that the Japanese were building the new temple, King Chulalongkorn offered them a thousand-year-old Buddha statue to enshrine at the temple.

Construction of the new temple was completed in 1904 but the 15 metre granite stupa in which Buddha's relics would be enshrined was not completed until 1918.

The temple was first named Nissenji Temple (which means Japan-Siam Temple) but it was later renamed Nittaiji Temple (JapanThailand Temple) when Siam changed its name to Thailand.

The temple, which is the only site in Japan that enshrines the relics of Buddha, has ensured friendly ties between Thailand and Japan for generations.

In 1902, Crown Prince Vajiravudh of Siam visited Kotokuin Temple in Kamakura. The Prince was on his way back from England and planted a pine tree at the temple as symbol of friendship.

King Prajadipok (Rama VII) and Queen Rambhai Barni visited the temple in 1931 and also planted a pine tree.

On the occasion of his royal visit to Japan in 1987, HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn planted a pine tree at Korokuin Temple in Kamakura and unveiled the statue of King Chulalongkorn at Nittaiji Temple in Nagoya.

In 1962, Their Majesties the King and Queen visited Nittaiji Temple and planted two Bodhi trees in front of the stupa, where the Buddha's relics are enshrined.

Two decades later, King Bhumibol offered the temple a Buddha statue on which he wrote the inscription "Buddha Sakyamuni" in gold leaf.

The ancient Buddha image given by his grandfather King Chulalongkorn was enshrined as the Principal Buddha statue in the chapel of Nittaiji Temple.

Banners honouring the King of Siam and the Japanese Emperor are placed on left and right of the Buddha statue.

To encourage Thai people to learn more about the history of the Buddhist communities of the two countries, the temple's committee is considering adding banners in the Thai language, said Tatematsu Enjo, 64, head of the temple's administration department.

Note: The Foundation for the Promotion of Social Sciences and Humanities Textbooks Project and Toyota Foundation (Thailand) is organising a symposium on the "120th Anniversary: Thai-Japanese Diplomatic Relations (18872007)" on November 23 at Hotel Pullman Bangkok King Power.

by Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

The Nation