A temple in Kyoto, Ryuganji Temple, is offering 1,500 free animated NFTs to promote Japanese Buddhist culture on a global scale.
Starting November 1, users can claim free non-fungible tokens of Ryuganji Temple via the official website. Visitors can also collect the NFT directly from the temple starting November 9, 2024 at 2:00 PM JST. A QR code will be available on-site for the public to scan to claim a free NFT.
The Ryuganji NFT includes a video showing the temple’s gate and main hall, as well as a snippet of animated brushstroke calligraphy created by the temple’s head priest.
To receive a free Ryuganji NFT, users must complete a short survey on the website and connect their blockchain wallet. Although the site notes that gas and service fees will be charged, the NFT itself is free and can be purchased with a credit card or Ethereum. The NFT is built using the ERC-721 NFT standard of the Ethereum protocol.
A person claiming the Ryuganji NFT online via their phone | Source: Goshuin Japan
You might also like: The popular anime franchise Ghost in the Shell will launch as an NFT collection on October 31st
According to the official blog post, the initiative is part of advertising production company Goshuin Japan’s project that aims to introduce Japan’s local temples, such as Ryuganji Temple, to the world by transforming goshuin into NFTs.
The NFT is inspired by the real visitor stamp offered at Japanese temples. Goshuin is a handwritten calligraphy stamp that commemorates the owner’s visit to a Buddhist temple. Worshipers often collected them when they went on pilgrimage. There are currently approximately 80,000 shrines and 77,000 temples in Japan.
A standard goshuin contains the name, date and phrase of the temple. The goshuin is usually handwritten by a monk, making each one unique, much like the nature of NFTs.
The Buddhist head priest of Ryuganji Temple, Ikeguchi Ryuho, writes a goshuin calligraphy | Source: Goshuin Japan
Head priest of Ryuganji Temple, Ryuho Ikeguchi, hopes more people can discover the temple by collecting the NFT, as he believes temples are the most fascinating part of Japanese culture.
“By sharing the charm of Japanese culture with the help of people from abroad, both Japan and the world will become stronger,” Ryuho said.
The Ryuganji Temple was founded in 1616. It was built on the former residence of Shibukawa Harumi, the first astronomer of Edo Shogunate. It is locally known as a Jodo Buddhist temple in Kyoto.
This project is in line with Japan’s new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ongoing plan to use blockchain technology and NFTs to revalue local assets such as food and tourism on a global scale.
Read more: Japan’s new Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, is in favor of blockchain and NFT in his policy document
