6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 18-24, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Still standing after 100 years isn’t an easy task. It takes time, dedication and, in the case of a temple, members to carry on with its beliefs and traditions. For a century, people from the Salinas Valley and beyond have gathered at the Buddhist Temple of Salinas and practiced Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Its mother temple is the Nishi Hongwanji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, and it is affiliated with the Buddhist Churches of America, a group of 60 Shin Buddhist communities across the country. Larry Hirahara, a former president of the Buddhist Temple of Salinas who now lives in Madera, joined the temple in the mid-1970s. He says Buddhism is easy to practice and accommodating. “It teaches you day-to-day life skills,” Hirahara says. The temple is more than just its walls. It’s part of the story and resilience of the Japanese American community in the area. The temple has about 150 members; a small number compared to records before World War II, portrayed in the large black-and-white photographs in the temple’s offices. The images show dozens of families, and up to six ministers posing for the camera. There were about 350 families who were part of the temple at one point. At the time, Japanese and Japanese Americans didn’t socialize so much with other groups. They prospered in the area, creating businesses and farming their own land. “It’s unique, it tends to be cultural; although, going forward, we realize that it can’t be strictly Japanese American or Japanese,” Hirahara says. The temple was built by Japanese Issei (first-generation migrants), who came to the Salinas Valley to work in agriculture, primarily in the sugar beet fields, after the Alien Exclusion Act banned Chinese immigration. It was a time when minorities, including Asians, were segregated to live in certain parts of town. In the garden is a Bonsho, a large bell decorated with figures and Japanese scriptures, as well as a large wooden beam to ring it from the outside during festivities. “We have a tradition of ringing the bell just before the New Year,” says Tom Yamashita, the temple’s president. Members take turns ringing the bell 108 times as a symbol of overcoming the 108 passions or imperfections they say humans possess. The bell was ordered from Japan to celebrate the temple’s 10th anniversary in 1934. Inside the temple, there is a golden altar with an Amida Buddha sculpture in the center. Most of the altar, except the columns which are now a different tone of gold, were dismantled and shipped to Japan in 2019 when artisans restored the pieces. The complex restoration cost about $180,000. “The craftsmanship—not very many people in Japan can do it,” temple secretary Mariko Yamashita says. Temples in the U.S. are managed differently than in Japan, where it is a family affair and run by the minister. In the U.S., a group of temple members manage it and hire a minister. World War II drastically impacted the temple. After the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, a vibrant and large community was forced to leave Salinas nearly overnight. The rodeo grounds in Salinas served as a processing center for Japanese families before they were incarcerated in internment camps, leaving behind all they had and knew. Many didn’t return to Salinas after the war, but those who did didn’t feel welcomed. During a second wave of Japanese immigration in the 1960s, the temple’s membership increased but it never recovered to its prewar numbers. Still, the temple is a cultural touchstone and offers activities and clubs in which people can learn more about Japanese culture. These include Bonsai tree classes, the Japanese tea ceremony known as chado, calligraphy, crafts and Kendo, a martial art. The temple will hold a private event to celebrate its centennial in October. Officials expect about 200 people— including local politicians, members and former ministers—to attend. Buddhist Temple of Salinas is at 14 California St. Services on Sundays at 10am. 424-4105, btsalinas.org. Century of Resilience The Buddhist Temple of Salinas is a gem in Chinatown that reveals a century of history and culture on its centennial. By Celia Jiménez Tom Yamashita, president of the Buddhist Temple of Salinas, stands by the altar inside the temple, which is marking its 100th anniversary this year. The temple offers various activities that showcase Japanese culture. “It teaches you day-to-day life skills.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Salinas at 150 LOCAL PEOPLE n LOCAL BANK
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==